The House of Representatives Committee on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to do everything within his powers to effect the release of the detailed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, insisting that his release was a critical step toward lasting peace and development in the region.
The Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Chris Nkwonta, who made the passionate appeal during its inaugural meeting in Abuja on Wednesday, said the security situation in the South-East region was a major concern that must be addressed for any meaningful progress to take place and the first step was the immediate release of Kanu.
Calling on President Tinubu to show political will and leadership by initiating a process that would lead to Kanu’s release and reintegration into society, Nkwonta stressed the importance of peace returning to the region and emphasized that the security situation in the South-East remained a major concern and must be addressed for any meaningful progress to take place.
“Given the region’s security concerns, the Committee and other well-meaning Nigerians appeal to the President to facilitate the release of Nnamdi Kanu as a step towards lasting peace and development in the South-East,” the lawmaker said.
“The establishment of the South-East Development Commission, 54 years after the civil war, is a monumental achievement. However, true reconciliation requires more than infrastructural development; it demands addressing historical grievances and ensuring justice for all,” he added.
Hon. Nkwonta linked the establishment of the SEDC to the broader national effort of Reintegration, Reconstruction, and Reconciliation (RRR) initiated by the federal government to heal the wounds of the past, particularly in the aftermath of the Nigerian Civil War, noting that the Commission was created to bridge developmental gaps in the region and that sustainable development could only be achieved in an atmosphere of peace and inclusivity.