Christian Appolos, Author at Tribune Online

Following the recent reconstitution of the board of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) by President Bola Tinubu, the Nzuko Alaigbo Socio-Cultural Progressives has expressed gratitude to him. In a press statement issued in Abuja on Sunday, the sociocultural organization also commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for championing the Bill and being in close contact with Mr. President and the leadership in making sure the Bill was signed. The statement, signed by the National President of the organisation, Ambassador Dr Tim Ihemadu, also dismissed a report in a section of the media insinuating that the constitution of the Board of the SEDC had sparked trouble between and among certain political leaders in the region. It declared that the people of the South East are happy and in full support of President Tinubu and his government. ALSO READ: Kalu applauds Tinubu’s SEDC board appointments Dr Ihemadu, who observed that the President has proven naysayers wrong by immediately reconstituting the Board after some initial hiccups, said people in the South East are in a jubilant mood, having seen President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope in action. He added that since the end of the Nigerian civil war in 1971, this is the first time the federal government is making real efforts to reintegrate the South East with the rest of the country. The organization therefore thanked President Tinubu for this gesture and assured him of the continued support of the South East for his government, Dr Ihemadu further called on Mr. President to release the leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOBP, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, whom the Court had earlier cleared of all the charges leveled against him. He said there was no rift between Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu and the Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, over the composition of the Board of the SEDC as reported in the media. Excerpts: “The reconstitution of the Board of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has set the region agog. “Initially, the first list of the Board that came out had kept everyone silent, but having rejigged the Board with a more dynamic approach, it now has those who will champion the cause of development for the region. Men with impeccable track records are now on the Board to manage the Commission. “We want to thank Mr. President for quickly constituting the Board, because people were thinking that this thing will not materialize. "In fact, initially, people were thinking that he would not sign the Bill (for the establishment of the SEDC), but he has signed it and finally he has constituted the Board with the right people. “We want to appreciate Mr. President for this gesture. Since 1971 that the war ended, all efforts to re-integrate the South East in to the Nigerian State have not really worked out. "This is the first time – meaning that the President is talking and doing. It means that he says something, he maintains and delivers it. “We want to appreciate him for bringing the right people.We also want to thank the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for championing the Bill and being in close contact with Mr. President and the leadership in making sure the Bill is signed. “We have proven the nay-sayers wrong by constituting the Board and Management of the Commission. “This is the first time we are seeing Renewed Hope in action. Indeed, Renewed Hope is already being felt in the South East currently and everywhere in the South East, people are happy and jubilating that indeed, President Tinubu means well for the region. “We therefore want to thank Mr. President and assure him of our continued support.” NIGERIAN TRIBUNE