By: Sunday Ameh
The South East Development Agenda (SEDA) has condemned what it described as personal attacks and unsubstantiated allegations against the Chairman of the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, while calling for the immediate release of statutory funds due to the commission.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Enugu, SEDA expressed concern over recent commentaries targeting the former Abia State governor, insisting that legitimate legislative oversight should not be undermined through personal attacks and political distractions.
The group also condemned the alleged unauthorized leak of an internal Senate Committee memo relating to the activities of the South East Development Commission, describing the action as an attempt to fuel controversy and divert attention from critical issues of accountability and development.
According to the statement signed by its Convener, Comrade Nelson Nnanna Nwafor, and Administrative Secretary, Chiemezielam Kelechi Oluoha-Steve, legislative oversight remains a constitutional responsibility and should not be misconstrued as interference.
“The Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission was established by law to provide oversight over the activities, finances, projects and operations of the Commission.
This responsibility is neither optional nor excessive. It is a constitutional obligation designed to safeguard public resources and ensure that government institutions remain accountable to the people,” the group stated.
SEDA argued that attempts to portray oversight as harassment were misleading and counterproductive, stressing that transparency and accountability are essential for the success of development intervention agencies.
Drawing parallels with the experience of the Niger Delta Development Commission, the group warned that weak oversight mechanisms could expose the South East Development Commission to similar challenges of alleged corruption, abandoned projects and financial mismanagement.
The organisation, however, acknowledged concerns over delays in the release of budgetary allocations and statutory funding required for the commission to effectively execute its mandate.
It urged the Presidency and relevant federal authorities to expedite the release of approved funds, noting that it would be unfair to assess the commission’s performance without providing the resources necessary for project implementation.
“The Southeast continues to face significant infrastructure deficits, environmental challenges, youth unemployment, erosion problems and other developmental gaps that necessitated the establishment of the Commission in the first place,” SEDA said.
The group further called on Senator Kalu-led Senate Committee to sustain “robust, impartial, transparent and professional oversight” to ensure prudent management of public resources.
SEDA maintained that adequate funding and strict oversight were complementary rather than conflicting objectives, insisting that both were necessary to guarantee meaningful development across the South-East region.
The organisation also appealed to stakeholders, including the Presidency, National Assembly, SEDC leadership, civil society groups, traditional rulers and the private sector, to work together in advancing the region’s development agenda.
It added that the South-East had waited too long for a dedicated intervention framework and urged all parties to prioritise transparency, accountability and cooperation over “personal attacks, leaked documents, misinformation and divisive rhetoric.”
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