Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, on Wednesday, urged the people of the South-East to refrain from participating in the planned anti-government protests. This appeal follows President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law.
Kalu emphasized that President Tinubu’s action demonstrates a commitment to addressing past grievances. The newly enacted bill aims to tackle ecological problems and other environmental or developmental challenges in the South-East states, as well as to address infrastructural damages resulting from the civil war.
“To my fellow South-Easterners, I implore you not to join the looming anti-government protests,” Kalu said while briefing journalists in Abuja. “Instead, let us view the signing of the SEDC bill into law as a testament to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration’s resolve to heal the wounds of the past, dispel the rumors of marginalization of the South-East geopolitical zone, and renew hope for equitable economic growth and socio-cultural renewal. This is a time for unity and progress, not division and unrest.”
Kalu also appealed to Nigerians across the country to disregard calls for protests and to trust in the government’s reform process. “The reforms of the current administration will take time but will soon start to yield results, including reversing inflation, stabilizing the economy, and creating a massive employment boom through industrialization and the efforts of organizations like the SEDC,” he added.
