By Chinonso Alozie

Owerri – The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists on Thursday commended the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu and his colleagues for the actualization of the signing into law of the South East Development Commission by President Ahmed Bola Tinubu.

The IBN convener, Mazi Uche Mefor, spoke in a statement to newsmen in Owerri.

He was of the view that the commission would assist to address the longstanding development neglect of the region.

According to Mefor, “The Igbo-Biafra Nationalists and the Indigenous People of Igbo Nation for Self-Determination commend the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Benjamin Kalu, and his colleagues for the extraordinary achievement of securing the enactment of the South-East Region Development Commission. This legislative success is a significant milestone towards addressing the longstanding developmental neglect faced by the South-East region, including the destruction caused by the genocidal war of aggression criminally prosecuted by the Nigerian state.

“While this achievement is indeed a positive step, we must underscore that it is merely a starting point in the broader quest for equity. The enduring disparity in state representation remains a critical issue. The South-East, with fewer states compared to other regions boasting six or seven states, continues to suffer from systemic marginalisation, subjugation, and socio-economic jeopardy within Nigeria’s political framework.”

“Consequently, we call upon all political representatives from the South-East to prioritise the creation of additional states in the region. This initiative should be championed as a primary agenda until such time as equity and justice is achieved, ensuring that the South-East no longer bears the brunt of inequitable treatment,” he said.