By Sam Hart
The media space has been awash with a disgruntled minority trying to kick against the composition of the Board of the South East Development Commission as announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The noise is from usual quarters. Those who have arrogated to themselves the fabled ‘unu dum’ (I represent all of you) appellation of the popular Igbo folk tale.
The misnomer is that they have gotten away in times past with dearing heists that they now assume that they can get away with anything. From questionable Governorship coronations from distant positions to nominations of Ministers and other key positions due to the South East, they have erroneously assumed that they possess the sole license to dictate what comes to an entire region without recourse to critical stakeholders.
Thankfully, no one is questioning the competencies and capabilities of the nominees to the South East Development Commission Board. Just bellyaching as to how they emerged.
The Board Chairman-designate, Nwadiala Chukwuemeka Ngozichineke Wogu is a holder of a Doctorate Degree duly earned at the eminent University of Nigeria, Nsukka. He holds the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Niger, the National Productivity Order of Merit and a couple Presidential commendations for diligent service to the Nation. He has been a Local Government stalwart, a 2-term Commissioner at the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission a Special Adviser to the Governor of his State, a 2-term Minister and an eminent Statesman.
The Managing Director-Designate, Mark Okoye, is a shining star from the East. A former Special Adviser to the Governor of Anambra State, a former Commissioner and incumbent Managing Director of the Anambra State Investment Promotion Agency. A fine technocrat by all prisms. A perfect choice to be the pioneer Managing Director of the Regional Development Agency.
There is an Executive Director from every State in the South East. All men of proven pedigree and developmental bonafides.
The State and Regional Representatives on the Board are all accomplished individuals.
But that is not the issue. The issue is who nominated them.
Thankfully, the South East Development Commission Act confers on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria the sole prerogative to nominate Members to the Board subject to confirmation by the Senate. The Act setting up the Commission did not saddle the President with the primordial requirement to take names from a self-imposed demigod of the South East region.
We should be ashamed of ourselves but the bad actors have since murdered shame. They do not mind besmirching the name, acuity and prestige of the office of the President to further their nefarious ends.
Other Regional Development Agencies have since constituted their Boards without a pip from stakeholders. But God-forbid things go smoothly for the South East. Bad actors must do what bad actors do. Muddy the waters and cause ruckus where none is required.
By the grace of God, the Board of the South East Development Commission will be screened by the Senate and the Board inaugurated to the shame of those who want to keep the region hobbled.
One would think that all stakeholders will close ranks and support the unprecedented move by the President to assuage the decades-long angst in the region stemming from failure by past Federal Governments to keep to the promise of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction in the region. But no. It is a case of if I am not dictating the outcome, then let’s scatter everything. Everything will not be scattered to the eternal shame of bad actors.
This is a call on Igbos accros persuasions to rally round President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to support him as he seeks to do what no previous administration has done since the end of the Civil War – dedicating Federal funds to the rebuilding of the South East region rising from the ashes of destructions of the Civil War.
This is a call to eschew primordial sentiments and band together in unison for the good of the region. Let us repudiate those who seek to divide us and their agents. Let us rise in unison in one voice to take our destiny into our own hands.
Ohaneze Ndigbo, Youth Groups, the Igbo Intelligentsia, Academics, Trade Unions, Town Unions, rise up and issue statements urging all actors to sheath their swords and consider the larger objective of regional development.
The President, in his wisdom, has constituted the Board of the South East Development Commission and they must be allowed to settle down quickly and tackle the myriad challenges in the region.
Posterity is calling. Will you answer?
Sam Hart, a Member of the National Institute, writes from Abuja.
