Apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has hailed President Bola Tinubu for his assent to the South East Development Commission Bill.
This is also as the group lauded the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, RT Hon Benjamin Kanu for sponsoring the bill, describing him as the new face of hope for the Igbo race.
In a statement made available to journalists on Thursday, the National President, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, who eulogized President Tinubu as a man of history, said the signing of the bill had justified the group’s support for Kalu.
Okwu, who said the Commission would accelerate development in the South East region, noted that “this is a landmark step since after the civil war, which will help in bringing rapid development to the South East.
“There is no doubt that the South East has the highest concentration of decayed infrastructure. So, this Commission will go a long way in transforming the level of infrastructure in the zone,” he said.
According to Okwu, “We recall that during the inauguration of the current National Assembly, we stood solidly behind Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu to emerge as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. We saw in him what some others could not see.
“Today, we have been vindicated with the historic signing of this bill, which he sponsored. The SEDC Act is undoubtedly the best thing to have come the way of Ndigbo since the civil war ended 54 years ago.
“We can’t thank the Deputy Speaker less for his foresight, for pushing through what other lawmakers from the zone could not achieve tens of years ago.”
The Igbo group then asked their kinsmen to heed to Kalu’s appeal for an end to every form of agitation in the region.
This comes as Kalu at a press conference on Wednesday, called on his Igbo kinsmen to stop agitation.
Okwu, who said the call was in order, noted that the current federal government, having taken the first major step towards addressing cries of marginalization in the zone, there was no longer any need for any form of agitation or protest in the region.
“We want to reiterate our call that no Igbo man should participate in the planned nationwide protest.
“In line with the call by the Distinguished Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, we also advocate that every form of protest and agitation should end forthwith.
“This is as the bill will address the key issues of concern to Ndigbo, as it centres on the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses and other infrastructural damage suffered by the region as a result of the effect of the civil war after 54 years.
“We, therefore, call on all Ndigbo to key behind the Rt Hon Benjamin Kanu, the new face of hope for the Igbo race, as we are sure of having our demands met through him under the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Okwu further stated.