Shun planned nationwide protest, Kalu begs South East youths

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged Nigerians, particularly youths of the South East extraction, to shun the planned nationwide strike.

He said the youth instead, should engage in dialogue with the Federal Government to address challenges facing the country.

This was just as the lawmaker stated that President Bola Tinubu’s assent to the South East Development Commission Bill on Tuesday, will aid infrastructural rebuilding in the region, following many years of neglect by successive administrations.

Kalu stated these in Abuja on Wednesday while addressing journalists on the signing of the SEDC into law by Tinubu.

He said, “To my fellow South-Easterners, I implore you not to join the planned anti-government protests. Instead, let us view the signing of the SEDC bill into law as a testament to the President Bola Tinubu administration’s resolve to heal the wounds of the past, bury the rumours of the marginalistion of the South-East geopolitical zone, and renew the hope of the nation towards equitable economic growth and socio-cultural renewal.

“I also implore Nigerians from all walks of life and the entirety of the country to not heed the calls for protest but instead continue to trust in the process. The reforms of the current administration will take time but will soon start to suffice, including a reversal of inflation and stabilisation of the economy.

“This will trigger multiplier effects in a massive employment boom as a result of industrialisation, and the outcomes of the work organisations like the SEDC will engineer.”

Kalu who represents Bende Federal Constituency, added that the commission “will receive and manage funds from the allocation of the Federation Account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses, and other infrastructural damages suffered by the zone as a result of the civil war.

“It will also tackle ecological problems and other related environmental or developmental challenges in the South-East States including Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra, and Ebonyi.”

The bill, sponsored by the Deputy Speaker and all lawmakers from the South-East failed to get presidential assent in the 8th and 9th Assembly during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

Commending Tinubu on signing the bill into law, Kalu described the development as a demonstration of official readiness to reposition the South East zone to tap into its resources for the good of its people in particular and the nation at large.

He further reiterated his commitment to use the carrot and stick approach in addressing the security challenges in the region.

“Aside from our legislative interventions and ongoing hard work in the National Assembly, my colleagues and I from the South-East have set the ball rolling with non-kinetic measures as remediation to the insecurity situation in the region.

“Through the Peace in South East Project, a non-governmental special purpose vehicle with thematic and programmatic leadership, we intend to execute this flawlessly,” he added.

Fielding questions from journalists on the significance of the law, Kalu, a member of the All Progressives Congress said the SEDC will propel the people to leverage agriculture and entrepreneurial skills that will enable industrialisation of the region.

“Our innovative mindedness will leverage the opportunities in the digital economy, our creativity will birth a greater cultural and entertainment platform such as Igbowood and our youth and women demography will play a major role in the energy of our development.

“It is time to put our huge gap deposit in the region to use for industrial parks that will bring value to the nation. Most of the radicalized youths will now have jobs to engage them productively among others,” he concluded.