The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, has called on indigenes and people of the South Eastern part of Nigeria, to reject the Sit-At-Home policy in the region.
He made the call when he received the President General Of Ohaneze Worldwide, Mr Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu and Members Of National Executive Council Of Ohaneze Ndigbo in Abuja.
The Deputy Speaker said that the Sit-a At-Home policy in the south east region was a lazy man’s approach to agitation.
The Deputy speaker said that the sit at home syndrome was meant for Igbo people because Igbo people are not lazy but very industrious people.
Hon Kalu assured the Igbo leaders that a regional economic policy was needed for the development of the south east.
He also called for a regional security approach to end insecurity in the region.
“That is why we have in our wisdom as a parliament decided to collaborate with the Chief Security Officers of various states, who are the governors by bringing up our own project which we call Peace In South East Project, PISAP
“Peace In South East Project is a project that will have the buy in of all the constitutuencies in igbo land and I am happy to announce that the security agencies in this country have accepted that proposal and will be partnering with the House of Representatives in this our initiative,” Kalu said.
He said that it’s initiative of making the south east great lies in the hands of all Igbo people.
He noted that with the support of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, a lot would be achieved.
He also said that in spite of the current challenges in the country, Nigeria would remain one, saying that rather than separate, “we will look for smaller countries to join Nigeria to make it great”.
Regional Integration Policy
He urged the governors to consider a regional fund to increase the region’s trade and productivity, while calling for a regional security integration policy.
He said there was a need for collaboration cutting across states to help the state to be more secure.
“We need peace in the Southeast project and security agencies have accepted the proposal for this initiative. Security is not only at the state but also at the local government level”.
He called for a regional political leader that would make the region play national politics the way it must be done.
The parliament that I lead as Deputy Speaker, believes we should be thinking of a regional economy integration policy that will involve all the states in the southeast to collaborate on rail lines,” he said.
The Deputy speaker also called on the Organisation to extend their hand of fellowship to other parts of Nigeria to attract development to the south East zone.
Rep. Benjamin Kalu, said there was need to work more to achieve success in the region, saying “if you work small, you get small; if you work big you get big”.
He said his sense of commitment and hard work was why President Bola Tinubu decided to consider him for the post of a deputy speaker in the 10th assembly.
Earlier, the President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, said that they were in the House to pay homage to the leadership and show solidarity.
He said that the Representatives at the National Assembly are the leaders of the Igbo’s who are carefully chosen to represent ndigbo.
He said that his mission was to transform Igboland as the leader of the social cultural group.
Confidence Okwuchi
