By Comfort Olayinka
The Deputy Speaker of the house of representatives Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu on Wednesday in Abuja appealed to Nigerians, particularly those from the South East region, to reject the proposed nationwide protest. Instead, he encouraged them to view the signing of the South East Development Commission bill into law as a significant step towards healing past wounds and promoting equitable economic growth.
Kalu emphasized the need for unity and peace, stating that unrest and division would only lead to further underdevelopment. He expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the bill, describing it as a testament to the administration’s commitment to addressing the region’s marginalization.
The Deputy Speaker also called for patience with the current administration, assuring that its reforms would yield positive results, including economic stabilization and industrialization. He highlighted the potential of the South East Development Commission to drive growth in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and digital economy, and to create jobs for the region’s youth.
Kalu commended President Tinubu for remembering the South East region 54 years after the civil war and thanked the Governors of the five states in the region for their support. He emphasized that negotiation, diplomacy, and lobbying could achieve more than conflict and protest.
He said, “The reforms of this current administration will take time, no doubt, but it will soon start to suffice, including a reversal of inflation, stabilization of the economy and ensuing multiplier effect in a massive employment boom as a result of industrialization and the outcomes of the work organizations like the SEDC, which is the South East Development Commission, will engineer in the coming days.
“With South East Development Commission, we will leverage to improve agriculture. Entrepreneurial skills will enable industrialization of the region and our innovative mindedness will leverage the opportunities in the digital economy.
“Our creativity will birth a greater cultural and entertainment platform, such as the Igbowood. Our youth and women demography will play a major role in the energy of our development. It is time to put our huge gap deposit in the region to use for industrial parks.
“The gas in our zone will aid these industrial parts that will bring value to the nation. Most of the radicalized youths in our region who have been crying because of the seeming rumors of marginalization and alienation from the center will now have jobs to engage them productively, among others.
“It is no more time to carry arms. It is now time to take up skills that will be stimulated by the South East Development Commission. This is a foundation for peace and security in the southeast. There is no better foundation than this.
“On behalf of the great people of the Southeast geopolitical zone of Nigeria, the beating heart of the nation, the land of enterprise and entrepreneurship, let me express my deep gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the Southeast Development Commission SEDC bill into law yesterday”
Speaking further, Kalu said, “This victory is a true example that a lot can be achieved quietly through lobbying, negotiation for what is good for your people. With negotiation, diplomacy and lobbying, not conflict and protest, we can achieve a lot more from this government.
“I wish to thank the Governors of the five states of the southeast and to congratulate them for their support towards this bill.
