LAGOS- The Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill into law. The SEDC will cover the states of Abia, Anambra, Ebonyi, Enugu and Imo.
A statement signed by Dr. Chiedozie Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, described the signing as “a quantum leap, a hope renewal and a significant part of a new beginning by President Tinubu.” 
Ohanaeze commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, and the co-sponsors of the bill.
The organization said that during a courtesy call to the National Assembly by its leadership; the exceptional quality of Kalu did not go unnoticed, adding that “his suave, assertive, sagacious and visionary dispositions were very inspiring and a veritable source of hope.
SEDC is expected to manage funds allocated from the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, and other infrastructure deficits suffered by the region due to age-long neglect. The SEDC will tackle ecological problems and related environmental challenges that have devastated the Southeast for decades.
Ohanaeze asserted that the SEDC will go a long way to assuage the feelings of the “Igbo with respect to the 3R sophistry by General Yakubu Gowon in January 1970. Gowon had assured the world that there would be three R: Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of the Igbo land as a result of war ravages. But fifty four years after the war, the South East has witnessed the direct opposite of the 3Rs, even in exponential proportion.
It stated that the “South East has the least number of local government areas, the least number of states, the least in political appointments, the least members in the House of Representatives, the least in the Senate and of course the worst in infrastructure. The foregoing structures are the federal allocation tributaries that have enlarged the coast of other geopolitical zones, leaving the South East of Nigeria in the cold. No one should, therefore, look elsewhere in the search for the persistent youth restiveness and secessionist agitations in the region.
Ohanaeze stated that the South East governors will leverage the opportunity created by the commission to anchor programmes that will fully harness and promote the industrial, agricultural, tourism, energy, commercial and investment potentials in the zone, adding that it will also help to create the much desired centrally coordinated security architecture in the zone; and more.
It recalled that the Minister of Works,. David Umahi, at Abikiliki, announced plans by the Federal Government to construct 477 kilometre-six-lane super highway, traversing five states to Abuja. According to the minister, the super highway will, among others, pass through Abakiliki, Enugu, Nsukka, leading to Abuja.
The statement said that the president general of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, (Ahaejiagamba Ndigbo), is elated and sent gratitude to Mr. President over the developments.
