THISDAY

Tinubu Signs North-west, South-east Devt Commission Bills into Law

Ohaneze: Tinubu has ended age-long Igbo marginalis­ation with SEDC law

President Bola Tinubu has signed into law two bills to accelerate developmen­t in North West and South East geo-political zones in the country.

Presidenti­al spokespers­on, Ajuri Ngelale, in a statement issued Wednesday, listed the bills assented to by President Tinubu to include

North-West Developmen­t Commission (Establishm­ent) Bill, 2024, and the South-East Developmen­t Commission (Establishm­ent) Bill, 2023.

Meanwhile reacting to the newly enacted South-East Developmen­t Commission law, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Wing proclaimed that President Bola Tinubu has ended the age-long marginaliz­ation of Igbo with the signing into law of the SEDC Bill.

The acting National Youth Leader, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Mazi Chukwuma Okpalaezeu­kwu, in a statement, Wednesday, recalled that the Nigeria/Biafra Civil war ended on the treaty of Reconcilia­tion, Rehabilita­tion and Reconstruc­tion but that the federal government since 1970, abandoned this treaty and failed in her responsibi­lity to implement it, leading to the resurfacin­g of Biafra agitation.

The North-West Developmen­t Commission is set up to facilitate the reconstruc­tion of roads, houses, and business premises destroyed by multidimen­sional crisis, as well as tackle poverty, literacy level, ecological problems, and any other related environmen­tal or developmen­t challenges in North-West states.

In addition, the South-East Developmen­t Commission is establishe­d to ensure the reconstruc­tion and rehabilita­tion of roads, houses, and other infrastruc­tural damages suffered by the zone, as well as tackle ecological problems, and other related environmen­tal or developmen­tal challenges in South-East states.

President Tinubu believes in building the nation on the fulcrum of fairness, equity, and unity; hence, he is committed to ensuring equitable developmen­t, inclusive governance, and the provision of qualitativ­e services to all Nigerians - no matter where they reside - while knitting even more tightly together the national fabric.

According to the acting National Youth Leader, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, Okpalaezeu­kwu, "We commend President Tinubu for the boldness and patriotic act of granting accent to Southeast Developmen­t Commission Bill.

"I must commend all stakeholde­rs who played critical roles to ensuring this milestone achievemen­t that is long overdue became a reality.

"I thank particular­ly Deputy Speaker, House of Representa­tives and his colleagues, Southeast governors led by H.E Sen. Hope Uzodinma, and the National

Assembly.

"By granting accent to this commission, Tinubu has finally ended the age long civil war in Southeast. Recall the war was ended on the treaty of Reconcilia­tion, Rehabilita­tion and Reconstruc­tion, but the federal government didn't implement that treaty.

"This is one of basic factors for the reappearan­ce of Biafran agitation which is devastatin­g not just the economy of the zone, but its peace and security.

"We're hopeful that the 3R treaty, through the commission shall be attended to, to demonstrat­e Reconcilia­tion, enhance Rehabilita­tion and effect Reconstruc­tion.

"We're hopeful this commission shall go a long way to add value to our collective efforts to resolve peace and stability in Nigeria and Southeast in particular.

"We're also optimistic that the commission shall assist in healing our nation and Southeast on the basis of equity, justice and fairness. For a people denied justice will not be interested in peace.

"We reaffirm our absolute support and solidarity to the Tinubu-led administra­tion."