South East elders have expressed dismay over attempts to distract the board of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), urging that great effort be made to resist the temptation of allowing political considerations to cloud the commission's vision.
Senate Committee Accusations
Recently, the Senate Committee on SEDC, headed by Senator Orji Uzor Kanu, accused the commission of frivolous spending, including renting a corner liaison office in Abuja at an outrageous amount. However, following the discovery that the allegation of paying N153 million for a one-room office was unfounded, stakeholders have called for support.
Stakeholders Call for Non-Partisan Support
The Convener of Igbo Dialogue Conference, Dr. Chekwas Okorie, and US-trained development expert, Architect Tony Oji, urged South East politicians to reciprocate President Bola Tinubu's gesture of establishing the commission through non-partisan support. In separate interactions with The Guardian, the leaders advised SEDC officials to share their vision and ideas with lawmakers, noting that as an interventionist agency, the commission should focus on developmental initiatives and resist parochial affiliations.
Okorie's Remarks
Okorie regretted that lawmakers did not bother to visit the SEDC Liaison Office in Abuja before making declarative pronouncements about cost-to-value implications. He pleaded with SEDC officials to deploy information, enlightenment, and communication mechanisms to keep stakeholders abreast of its mission. On allegations of lopsided expenditure on hiring consultants, Okorie noted that it is implausible for any modern organization to embark on projects without adequate studies, stressing that experts must be involved for standardization, timelines, and best practices.
Oji's Perspective
Mr. Oji, a US-returnee, said the SEDC Board appears meticulous in its planning, remarking that the commission's vision for a rail project connecting the five South East states, as well as investment in start-ups for young entrepreneurs, are laudable projects with long gestation periods. He stated, "From experience, I can understand the seeming misunderstanding between the Board and politicians. In the US, when we embarked on the design for enhanced public works for Fort Worth in Texas, we had to undertake extensive enlightenment on our methodologies."
Oji added, "Politicians are interested in elections and expect some credit notes to confront the electorate. SEDC officials should learn to walk a middle course by constantly engaging lawmakers with their deliverables and timelines." He noted that comparisons between SEDC and its counterparts, especially in the South West, are baseless, as the needs assessment of the South East, which survived the ravages of a civil war, cannot be on the same plane as other parts of the country.
Environmental Challenges
Oji further highlighted the environmental challenges in the South East and the peculiarities of the various states, saying politicians and other leaders should show understanding for the difficult circumstances SEDC officials face. He stated, "The SEDC is a belated interventionist agency. I think President Tinubu did what the military administrations failed to do in the immediate aftermath of the civil war. Rather than blow hot air about organizational style or strategies, our politicians should employ caution."
