The newly appointed Executive Director of 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 the South East Zone.
Ogbede, who spoke in 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 as 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 the South-East after the devastating civil war of the early 70s remained a critical national issue until a few months back, pointing out that despite the sustained agitations and imperativeness of such action, all past administrations bluntly refused to act on it.
The ED emphasised 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.
Furthermore, Ogbede commended the President for gathering the political and moral will to bring the lingering perceived marginalisation of the zone to an end, stating 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.
He also commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, for the role he played in making the SEDC dream see the light of 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.
Speaking on his own appointment, Ogbede 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 of 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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