A former deputy-governor of Anambra State, Dr Nkem Okeke has expressed optimism that the South East Development Commission bill passed by the National Assembly when signed into law by President Bola Tinubu would assuage the outcry over marginalisation by the Igbo nation.
Dr Okeke made the assertion in his contribution as a discussant during a colloquium on “De-marginalisation of South East Zone and Integration Into National Politics” organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC), South East zone at Nnewi-North local government area of the state, adding that the commission would tackle development challenges in the zone just as the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is doing in the South South region.
Okeke, a chieftain of the APC, stated that the commission when inaugurated would address six critical areas that will accelerate development in in the region which he enumerated to include, economy, infrastructure, human capital development, industrialisation, peace and security as well as integration among the component states within the region.
Citing the Second Niger Bridge already constructed by the APC-led administration of former President Muhammad Buhari, Okeke urged the people of Anambra State to enthrone APC administration in the coming 2025 governorship in the state so that it would begin to enjoy higher national presence.
Earlier, the keynote speaker and vice-chancellor of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Prof Charles Esimone stated that the constitution of the country and census were largely responsible for the marginalisation of the South East region.
He pointed out for instance that the number of local governments in just two states in the Northern region: Kano and Jigawa, are more than all the local governments in the entire South East region put together.
The APC national chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje described people of the South East as the most-travelled, and, innovative race in the country and as such “ingredients” of the nation’s cohesion and integration.
He, however expressed disappointment that Anambra State as the heartland of the South East rather than belong to the mainstream national political party, has since the past 25 years been governed by a fringe political party, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
He urged the people of the state to connect the state in 2025 to the national politics by voting in an APC government.
He commended the facilitator of the colloquium, the senator representing Anambra South Senatorial District, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah describing him as a politician with great capability.
He also commended the Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma for mobilising the South East zone for the APC.
Senator Ubah stated that his commitment was to align the people of the South East, and, indeed, Anambra state with the mainstream national political party so that the zone would not continue to suffer marginalisation.
