The South East Development Commission oversight of blackmail and intimidation.
The recent altercations between the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission and the Managing Director of the Commission drew my attention this morning with a lot of surprises and regrets, to say the least. It dawned on me that this country is beyond redemption. It became a painful reality that patriotism and honest service to the nation have become a crime and may soon become a capital offence. Who do we complain to ?
The viral video clip of the Senate Committee hearing, mischievously conveyed a completely opposite realities of the prudent operations of the South East Development Commission headed by the Managing Director, Mark Okoye, who together with his members were demonised as criminals, who have loothed the N16.6 Billion naira take-off grant to the Commission with nothing to show for it. What a country !
As much as the Senate has oversight functions over the activities of the Commission, it has no rights whatsoever to dictate the program implementation of the projects, expenditures, and administration of the Commission. The Commission should not be under the whims and caprices of the Senate Committee.
The public harassment noticed during the session suggests a seeming assertion of independence by the Commission against the intrusion of the Senate Committee in respect of their operations, particularly in the award of contracts etc, etc.
For the records, I observed that the Senate Committee in their hubris, tried to blackmail and hoodwink the general public against these young patriotic Nigerians who, rather, chose the part of accountability, prudence and respect for the masses in managing the billions of naira allocated to the Commission than the usual “off the mic” drama.
On the claim that the Commission has no operational Head office in the South East but a 1- bedroom office in Abuja rented for N153 million, the Commission has a duplex as it’s liason office in Maitama Abuja which houses some secretarial staff.
The Commission on inauguration was faced with the temptation of renting a magnificent edifice recommended by one of the National Assembly politicians, but turned it down in preference to a free and magnificent building with large compound and boys quarters donated by the prudent and sensible Governor of Enugu State, His Excellency, Barr. Peter Mba. This edifice is a 4-storeyed building and is currently undergoing renovation and furnishings by the Commission. The office will be ready by August 2026 for full occupation. It has over 25 offices, conference rooms amongst other amenities. No rent was demanded by the Enugu State government.
It is very surprising and rare to note that the Commission has not awarded any contract except for the renovation of the said head office building.
It is even more surprising that more than sixteen months after inauguration, the Managing Director and the Commissioners intentionally denied themselves the comfort of purchasing the budgeted and approved funds for the purchase of official cars and operational vehicles until they move into the Head office in August. Presently, the Commission operates from a make shift office and conference room within the premises of the Presidential Hotel Enugu.
These and many sacrifices and restraint from sharing the N16.6 Billion as usual and perhaps sought, they should be honored and encouraged rather than vilified by the Senate and uninformed Nigerians.
I therefore challenge the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission and other agencies to investigate and contradict these discoveries and if found true, they should encourage these young men to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of South East.
I am very confident that the calibre of membership of the Commission, the SEDC, will be the pride and model for other Development Commissions in Nigeria to follow in the years to come.
Willie Amadi ✨
Lawyer and Environmentalist.
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