The Ohanaeze Youth Council (OYC), the youth wing of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organization, has commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for his instrumental role in passing the long-awaited bill that established the South-East Development Commission (SEDC). The Council also lauded President Bola Tinubu for swiftly signing the bill into law, marking a significant step towards equitable development across the country.
In a statement issued on Wednesday by the OYC’s factional National President, Comrade Igboayaka O. Igboayaka, and made available to The Trumpet, the group condemned recent attempts to discredit the efforts of the Deputy Speaker. The statement specifically called out Dr. Josef Onoh, who allegedly sought to undermine Kalu’s work while eyeing the Managing Director position of the SEDC.
Igboayaka emphasized that Onoh’s efforts were baseless, accusing him of ignorance about the Act that established the Commission. He further explained that Kalu’s dedication to ensuring the bill’s passage and his strong relationship with both President Tinubu and members of the National Assembly were key to the bill becoming law.
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“There is no such thing as a ‘former spokesman of President Bola Tinubu in the South-East,'” Igboayaka stated, referencing Onoh’s self-proclaimed title. He criticized Onoh for attempting to take credit for a success he had no hand in, while simultaneously trying to tarnish the image of those who played crucial roles in the bill’s success.
The OYC hailed Hon. Benjamin Kalu as a true Igbo patriot, describing his efforts as reminiscent of the visionary leadership of Dr. M.I. Okpara, who spearheaded the rapid development of the Old Eastern Region. According to the Council, the SEDC could similarly transform the South-East region into an economic powerhouse.
The Council also appealed to President Tinubu to continue prioritizing development projects in the South-East and called for the release of detained IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, through a political solution.
“The Igbo people are not ingrates,” Igboayaka added. “We appreciate President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for breaking a 54-year jinx by signing the SEDC bill into law, and we celebrate Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu for his outstanding service to Ndigbo.”
