The All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally written to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu regarding the recent appointments made to the newly created South East Development Commission (SEDC).
The letter, signed by the National Vice Chairman of the APC South East Zone, Dr Ijeomah Arodiogbu, and obtained by our correspondent on Wednesday, expressed gratitude to the president for his developmental initiatives in the South East, including the establishment of the SEDC.
However, it voiced concerns over the composition of the board and management of the commission, stating that the appointments did not adhere to the Act that established it.
The party accused the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu, of misleading the president into endorsing a skewed appointment, with five of his personal staff included while representatives from Imo and Ebonyi were overlooked.
Additionally, several members of the House of Representatives alleged that the Deputy Speaker had ulterior motives in appointing five of his staff to the same organisation.
Speaking on behalf of other members, an anonymous lawmaker remarked that the Deputy Speaker disregarded both his colleagues’ and the party’s advice, which had wisely distributed positions among the five South East states in line with the Act.
He stated, “The Deputy Speaker is attempting to do exactly what we are all fighting against. He wants to monopolise the commission and treat it like a private enterprise.
“While it is acceptable to appoint your personal staff across different organisations, having five of them, all drawing salaries from your office, in a single organisation is akin to having a family of six managing a government agency.
“This represents the kind of greed we must collectively oppose. An investigation should be conducted, and if found guilty, he should resign from public service. We cannot allow such mindsets to lead us, as they pose a threat to our democratic principles.”
In the letter addressed to the President, the party also expressed concerns over the appointment of the Managing Director of the commission, revealing that he is affiliated with the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
Additionally, it alleged that two other appointees are from opposition parties, despite the presence of numerous qualified technocrats within the ruling party.
The APC warned that these actions could undermine the trust of its supporters in the South East.
The party urged the President to reconsider the nominations and rectify the situation by ensuring adherence to the Act.
This is exactly APC way of doing things. The pattern manifested on many other projects and programmes initiated by the party over the years