The newly appointed Executive Director Agriculture, Rural Development and Natural Resources, in the South East Development Commission, Dr Clifford Ogbede, has stated that the establishment of the commission, is a testimony to President Bola Tinubu’s love for South East Zone.
The ED who spoke when members of the Ngor Okpala Journalists Forum paid him a congratulatory visit in his Umuekwune, Obiangwu, country home, Ngor Okpala LGA Imo State noted that there was no other way one could describe the president’s gesture in creating the body, other than a gesture of deep love and concern, considering that the challenge he addressed had not only lingered for over fifty years, but was also an existential problem.
He noted that the clamour for the rebuilding of South East in the aftermath of the devastating civil war of the early 70’s, remains a burning national issue till few months back, pointing out that despite the sustained agitations and imperativeness of such action, all past administrations bluntly refused to act on it.
He stressed that for President Tinubu to brave the odds and become the only president in the history of the country to buy into the idea of the rebuilding and reintegration process, and equally create a body to oversee the process, meant he has very noble intentions for the zone.
Dr Ogbede lauded the President for mustering the political and moral will to bring the lingering perceived marginalization of the zone to an end, adding that the action will not only accelerate progress and development in the zone, but also drastically reduce the tensions and agitations that have trailed the perceived mistreatment of the zone
The Executive Director also lauded the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, for the pivotal role he played in making the SEDC dream see the light of the day, within and outside the chambers of the National Assembly.
In the same vein, he applauded members of both chambers of the 10th National Assembly, for working harmoniously with the President, to ensure the speedy and seamless creation of the development agency.
Dr Ogbede expressed confidence that with the calibre of men and women, with proven leadership and management skills, experience and track records that the president appointed to run the affairs of the commission, the mandates given it would be achieved.
Concerning his own appointment, he described it as a call to service, pointing out that the call aligned perfectly with his natural tendency for service to God and humanity, and promised to serve with integrity, commitment, humility, love for the people and fear of God.
The SEDC Executive Director Agriculture, Rural Development and Natural Resources nominee, thanked the group for coming to identify with him and called on them to partner with the commission as they begin the onerous job of rebuilding the zone.
According to him, as opinion moulders and shapers from the zone, supporting the SEDC would go a long way in helping it deliver on its mandates, even as he assured them of his readiness, as well as that of the commission, to work closely with them.
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