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Tinubu signs S’East, N’West Development Commission Establishment Bills

Tinubu

.Welcomes Anyim, former Senate President, into APC

. Ohanaeze Ndigbo youth body hails Tinubu for SEDC Act

President Bola Tinubu has signed into law bills to accelerate development across geo-political zones in the country.

The President assented to the South-East Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2023 and the North-West Development Commission (Establishment) Bill, 2024.

This is contained in a statement by Chief Ajuri Ngelale, the Special Adviser to the President, Media and Publicity, on Wednesday in Abuja.

The South-East Development Commission is established to ensure the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the zone, as well as tackle ecological problems, and other related environmental or developmental challenges in South-East states.

In addition, North-West Development Commission is set up to facilitate the reconstruction of roads, houses, and business premises destroyed by multidimensional crisis, as well as tackle poverty, literacy level, ecological problems, and any other related environmental or development challenges in North-West states.

A statement from the Presidency said “President Tinubu believes in building the nation on the fulcrum of fairness, equity, and unity; hence, he is committed to ensuring equitable development, inclusive governance, and the provision of qualitative services to all Nigerians — no matter where they reside — while knitting even more tightly together the national fabric”.

Meanwhile, the Youth Wing of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has commended President Bola Tinubu for signing the South-East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill into law.

The Acting National Youth Leader of the group, Mr Chukwuma Okpalaezeukwu, made the commendation during an interactive session with newsmen in Awka on Wednesday.

Okpalaezeukwu said that Tinubu had finally ended the age-long civil war in the South-East with the creation of the commission.

He expressed the confidence that the commission would not only heal the region, but add value to the collective struggle to restore peace and stability in the troubled zone and Nigeria at large.

He said: “We commend the president for the boldness and patriotic act of assenting to the South-East Development Commission Bill.

“I must commend all the stakeholders who played critical role to ensure this milestone achievement and making this dream a reality.

“I thank particularly the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Chief Benjamin Kalu, and his colleagues, Southeast Governors, led by Sen. Hope Uzodinma of Imo, and the National Assembly.

“By assenting to the bill to establish the commission, the president has finally ended the age-long civil war in Southeast.

“Recall that the war ended on a treaty of Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, but successive governments did not implement that treaty.

“We are hopeful that the commission shall implement the treaty.”

Okpalaezeukwu further expressed optimism that the commission would assist in healing the nation and Southeast on the basis of equity, justice and fairness.

“We affirm our absolute support and solidarity to the Tinubu-led administration,” he said.

In a another development, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday formally received former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim, into the All Progressives Congress on Wednesday.

Anyim, a former Secretary to the Government of the Federation during President Goodluck Jonathan’s tenure, recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party to join the APC.

Tinubu welcomed Anyim to the Presidential Villa in Abuja, where he was presented by a delegation led by Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodimma, and Ebonyi State Governor, Francis Nwifuru.

Anyim expressed his commitment to Nigeria’s progress, stating, “There is need that we all should put hands together to move the country forward.”

He announced his defection on Saturday, July 13, 2024, when he led a contingent of his supporters into the APC fold during the party’s Local Government Area election campaign finale in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital.

Anyim led a large delegation of prominent individuals, comprising former lawmakers, governorship candidates, and thousands of their supporters, from various parties, including the Labour Party’s Edwin Nkwegu and Senator Obinna Ọgba, into the APC fold.

APC leaders, including National Chairman Abdullahi Ganduje, Uzodinma, Governor Francis Nwifuru, Minister of Works, David Umahi, and State Chairman Stanley Emegha, had welcomed the new members into the party fold.

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Ihesiulo Grace

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