The founding Chairman of the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and convener of the Igbo Agenda Dialogue, Chief Chekwas Okorie, has commended President Bola Tinubu for approving the South East Development Commission (SEDC), but cautioned against any hasty action that would frustrate the commission from achieving its mandate.
Okorie, who was reacting to attacks on the Commission for allegedly renting an apartment for millions of naira, said those carrying out oversight functions needed to visit the apartment to determine its size before commenting.
He, however, stressed the need for the Commission to educate the public about its activities to avoid speculation and rumours.
Okorie stressed the need to support the Commission in achieving its mandate, rather than taking early actions that may distract it.
He commended President Tinubu, who, despite whatever misgivings some of these may have, took the bold step not only to approve that Commission expeditiously, but also to issue a specific mandate to address the issues arising from the war.
He noted that, though the commissioner was accused of renting an apartment for millions of naira, a video recording of the exterior and interior of the complex is already in circulation.
Okorie also stated that it is common knowledge that necessary studies must be conducted by experts or consultants in specific areas of interest if the Commission must approach investors or financial institutions, both in Nigeria and abroad, for investment in the Southeast geopolitical zone.
He added that though he is always for accountability and transparency in the management of public funds, he thinks that what the Senate Committee did to the management of the Commission in less than six months of its receipt of about 6% of its 2025/2026 budgetary allocation appropriated by the National Assembly is in bad taste.
“The news of the donation of an office complex to the Commission by the Enugu State government, which will require renovation and equipment, has been circulated. The recruitment of the requisite staff to commence full operations will now begin.
“There is no doubt that the expectations of the good people of the Southeast are high and urgent.
“The public was jolted when the Senate Committee on the SEDC put up a public show as part of its oversight function of the Commission. The most explosive allegation made by the Senate Committee was the management of the Commission’s apartment in Abuja for the sum of #153m (one hundred and fifty three million naira).
“The Commission” was also accused of awarding contracts for several studies to consultants, which the Senate Committee considered irrelevant and wasteful. I watched this show thoroughly bewildered and alarmed. I promptly made some calls and found that the so-called one-room office space was indeed a furnished and equipped office complex in Maltama, Abuja.
“A video recording of both the exterior and interior parts of the complex is already in circulation. Again, it is common knowledge that necessary studies must be conducted by experts or consultants in specific areas of interest if the Commission must approach investors or financial institutions, both in Nigeria and abroad, for investment in the Southeast geopolitical zone.
I am always in favour of accountability and transparency in the management of public funds. Still, what the Senate Committee did to the Commission’s management, the Commission’sssix receiving about 6% of its 2025/2026 budgetary allocation approved by the National Assembly, is in bad taste. I believe that the Senate Committee acted in haste. The Committee’s actions are more coercive than oversight. I’d like for the Committee to be more diligent and discreet in its future oversight of the Commission. Similarly, I urge the Board and Management of the SEDC to be mindful of the high expectations of the people of the Southeast, in particular, and the public in general. I therefore recommend that the Commission should consider having an effective and proactive publicity and public relations department to engage the public and receive feedback regularly to counter avoidable misconceptions of its activities and intentions,” he stated to me.
