Veteran statesman Charles Ogbonnaya has voiced his disappointment in governors and other political figures for not providing adequate assistance for the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC). He sees the SEDC as a crucial factor in the revival of the South East region.
Having served as a former two-time commissioner and former Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor of Abia State, Ogbonna expressed that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu’s sponsorship of the SEDC Bill and its passage in the Green Chamber mark a significant step toward addressing the deterioration in the southeast region following the civil war.
Ogbonnaya, speaking in Umuahia to journalists, expressed his regret over the lack of sufficient support from governors and other political leaders in the region for the important initiative to take off effectively.
He emphasized the necessity of the commission in facilitating rapid development, particularly in the domain of road infrastructure, to address the developmental hurdles in the southeast. He highlighted that the principles of the SEDC align with the development vision of the late Dr. Michael Okpara, as outlined in the establishment of the Eastern Nigeria Development Corporation (ENDC).
Under Dr. Okpara’s leadership, cocoa farms, rubber and palm plantations, assets like the Metropolitan Hotel in Calabar and Presidential Hotels in Enugu and Port Harcourt, as well as the Golden Guinea Breweries, were established by the ENDC.
The Igbo leader argued that substantial support from political leaders in the southeast is crucial to steer the commission forward with federal government intervention, advocating for collaboration between the federal government and South East states in funding the reconstruction of the region’s infrastructure.
Expressing his belief in the potential presented by Hon. Benjamin Kalu to rebuild the southeast post the devastation of the civil war, Ogbonnaya called for collective action to pressure the federal government into taking essential steps, stating, “I believe all of us need to unite to seize this opportunity and compel the federal government to act accordingly.”