Former campaign spokesman to President Bola Tinubu in the South East, Dr. Josef Onoh, has condemned the claim that the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, was instrumental to the establishment of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), describing it as false.
He said if anyone deserves the credit, it should be Tinubu and the lawmakers who ensured that the south east got the commission to tackle issues of development in the zone.
He described it as ridiculous for faceless individuals to be promoting the false narrative of being behind the establishment of SEDC.
Onoh recalled that “former Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi mentioned lack of federal government presence in the south east and our presidential candidate of the APC, now President Bola Tinubu, promised to enhance the development of the south east by creating a commission that will ensure strong federal presence in the region and fast track development.
“He further asked Governor Hope Uzodinma to coordinate with all the south east governors for a meeting in Lagos to discuss issues affecting the south east to enable him understand the challenges of the region and how he can confront it if he wins the election,” he explained.
He said, “In attendance was the President, Senator Adams Oshiomhole, Governor Hope Uzodinma, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Governor Engr. Dave Umahi, Dr. Josef Onoh (myself) and Chief Gbazuagu Nweke Gbazuagu,” Onoh recalled.
He pointed out that moves to establish SEDC was also made in the 8th Assembly by Senator Samuel Anyanwu on June 22 2016 through a Bill which witnessed first reading and second reading one year after in June 2017.
He reminded that Senator Stella Odua reintroduced the bill in November 2019, which was passed by the National Assembly. Unfortunately, he said it was not assented into law by former President Mohammadu Buhari.
White noting that it was not a singular role of Kalu but other members of the National Assembly that saw the reintroduction and passage of the bill and assent into law by the president, Onoh said, “The South East Development Commission Bill was not an achievement of Hon Benjamin Kalu as he has been touting it to be, it was through the cooperation of the entire members of the National Assembly.
“It was not just members of the South East caucus, but more appreciation should go to the president and not the credit for Benjamin Kalu,” he ssid.
Pointedly, Onoh emphasised that, “It was President Tinubu’s plan to develop other regions, it’s so disappointing that it is only the SEDC act that they have been trying to attribute its success to only one person, whereas the North West Development Commission Act is not being ascribed to one person.
“The same manner, the Nigeria Delta Development Commission (NDDC) act and the North East Development Acts (NEDC) were passed and nobody made noise about them or tried to take the glory because they were collective efforts in national development,” he added.
He said he finds it “pathetic that individuals in some quarters are now trying to personalize the SEDC as their achievement whereas it was a collective effort and before then there was an engagement with the president and he assented to it, therefore it’s not an individual story.
“Members of the National Assembly of all regions contributed to it, but in particular is the Chief Executive, President Bola Tinubu who assented it into law.
“It is therefore absurd for one person in the lower chamber of the National Assembly to assume glory.
“At this time all hands should be on deck to revitalize the economy of Nigeria rather than playing unnecessary politics,” he said.
He stressed that, “I’m shocked at the cheap politics, some characters are attempting to credit the success of the commission to the Deputy Speaker, not even to the then south east governors who have not come to claim credit for it.
“Currently, the main focus of every elected politician is to join hands and support the president in tackling the current economic challenges facing the country and not personal glorification of any politician in particular aimed at next election,” Onoh said.