The President-General of Igbo sociopolitical organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, John Azuta-Mbata, has asked President Bola Tinubu to adequately fund the operations of the newly created South-east Development Commission (SEDC) to stimulate healing of old wounds inflicted on the Igbo-speaking people of the region in the past.
Mr Azuta-Mbata spoke on Wednesday at the ongoing four-day South-east Vision 2050 Regional Stakeholders Forum in Enugu.
Organised by the SEDC, the event which began on Tuesday, is aimed at charting a unified socio-economic development roadmap for the South-east and repositioning the region as a global industrial hub by 2050.
In attendance were Vice-President Kashim Shettima, ministers, and House of Representatives members.
Others were Governors Alex Otti (Abia), Francis Nwifuru (Ebonyi), Charles Soludo (Anambra) and the host governor, Peter Mbah (Enugu).
Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma was represented by the Speaker of the Imo State House of Assembly, Chike Olemgbe.
Healing old wounds
Mr Azuta-Mbata, while making his remarks, argued that the South-east has been instrumental in Nigeria’s development, especially through entrepreneurship and innovation, but that the region continues to suffer marginalisation since the end of the Nigerian Civil War.
“It would be dishonest not to acknowledge that over the years, feelings of exclusion, neglect and unresolved grievances have taken root in parts of our region.
“These sentiments, if left unaddressed, can weaken national cohesion,” Mr Azuta-Mbata said.
The Ohanaeze leader said the SEDC can play a dual role, driving development in the South-east and functioning as a vital instrument of reconciliation and healing.
“I respectfully appeal to the federal government to fully utilise the South-east Development Commission by providing it with appropriate and sustained funding.
“This will not only accelerate development, but also help assuage lingering ill feelings, rebuild confidence and heal old wounds in Igboland,” he stated.
Mr Azuta-Mbata stressed if the Nigerian government adequately supports the commission’s development plan for the South-east, it would demonstrate the government’s commitment to equity and justice for the region.
Earlier, while declaring the event open, the Chairperson of the SEDC, Emeka Wogu, said the forum underscored the importance of collaboration among federal and state government as well as regional institutions in addressing structural development challenges.
Mr Wogu said the gathering was intended to integrate a unified, long term development programme for the South-east.
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The South-east Vision 2050 is intended to provide a consistent rally and development framework that completes existing steps and national development plan,” he said.
Oh his part, the Managing Director of the SEDC, Mark Okoye, explained that the decision to organise the event came about when officials of the commission visited state governors from the South-east to gain their insights on the effective development plan for the region.
Mr Okoye said during those engagements, the governors separately pointed out the need for stable power supply and regional collaboration as pathway for shared prosperity of the region.
“In the coming months, this forum will translate into a prioritised pipeline for region wide projects for financing strategy and shared implementation framework.
“I think a month is too long. We will deliver this document in matter of six to seven weeks even we have to deny ourselves some sleep,” he said.
