A former Chairman of the South East Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), Chief Emeka Okafor, has called on the newly constituted Board of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), to prioritize massive infrastructural development across the region over personal gains.
Chief Emeka Okafor made the appeal while speaking with journalists in Umuahia, emphasizing that sustainable economic growth and social progress in the South-East can only be achieved through deliberate investment in modern infrastructure.
According to him, the South-East has long suffered infrastructural neglect, especially in the areas of road networks, industrial parks, power supply and rural development. He stressed that the SEDC must not be reduced to a political settlement platform but should focus on projects that would directly impact the lives of the people.
“The time for rhetoric is over. The South-East needs visible, strategic and transformative infrastructure that can unlock the region’s economic potential and empower our youths,” Okafor stated.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for finally inaugurating the commission and urged all members of the board, headed by the former Minister of Labour and Productivity, Chief Emeka Wogu, to put aside political differences and work towards the common interest of the South East region.
Okafor, however, expressed confidence that Chief Emeka Wogu would effectively steer the affairs of the commission, citing his proven track record. He described Wogu as a well-known technocrat with a strong passion for progress and development, urging stakeholders, including traditional rulers, civil society organizations and the private sector, to collaborate with the commission to ensure that its projects are people-oriented and effectively implemented.
Recall that the South-East Development Commission was signed into law in 2023 and was tasked with the reconstruction and development of the South-East region, addressing its socio-economic challenges and promoting inclusive growth.
