Lawmakers’ group canvasses creation of North-East Development Commission

BDULLAHI ISAH, Maiduguri
An Advocacy team led by a member representing Monguno, Marte and Nganzai Federal constituency has called on the Borno state Governor Hon. Kashim Shettima to appeal to his fellow state chief executives as well as other stakeholders to support the creation of the North-East Development commission (NEDC).
Hon. Monguno who made the call when they paid a courtesy call to Governor Kashim Shettima at the Government House Maiduguri yesterday said the commission if established will cater for the developmental need of the region, as the region according UNDP report indicates that the region is the poorest region on the country, hence the emergence of Boko Haram crisis.
The lawmaker said insurgency has created a lot of problems such as massive killings of innocent lives, destruction of properties and destruction of social strata of the society, therefore the developmental process must be tackled holistically and should not in a hap-hazard manner which will hamper the complete development of the region.
He said the bill sponsored by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Right Hon. Yakubu Dogara was unanimously supported and has passed through the second reading, as majority of members have seen the level of destruction unleashed by the Boko Haram insurgents, hence they felt such bill is important for the continued development of the North-east.
Responding, Governor Kashim Shettima “everything about Boko Haram is evil, there is no doubt about that, as we are living witness to the horrors gone through by our people, that is those who even survived their inhuman acts and either living in camps or with their relations”.
He said the North-east region should fused into one entity, despite pour tribal, religious and political affiliations, saying that “if you people from the House of Representatives could champion the course for the development of the north-east region, you have percent achieved what your people have elected you to do”.
He said the people of the region should solicit for the creation of the commission, as previous governments neglected the development of the North-east, which partly serve as catalyst that triggered the emergence of the Boko Haram insurgency.
Also speaking the chairman House Committee on Information, Hon. Abdulrazak Namdas called on Nigerian to support the creation of the commission, as the problem of the north east is not only the problem of Nigeria but the international community in general.
In his contributions, a Hon. Member from Bauchi, Hon. Ahmed Yerima said the establishment of the commission is not going to be easy, as many people have conflicting interest that is why they are going round the North-east to solicit the support of well meaning individuals and organizations.
He said he was amazed that some people are kicking against the creation of the commission arguing that the international communities are assisting, pointing out that the assistance from the intentional donor are temporary but the commission will permanently take care of the development of region.