…By Eddie Onurzuuike…
THE CHAIRMAN SENEC INTERIM STEERING BOARD (South East Nigeria Economic Commission)(SENEC)Engr.(Sir)Chris Okoye on Monday,26thMay, 2014, paid a courtesy call on His Excellency, Chief T. A. Orji.
Issues that featured prominently, among other things, during their meeting which held in the Gov’s office were how to move South East Nigeria Economic Commission (SENEC), forward. He thanked His Excellency for appointing a special Adviser to him on Senec and requested for the formalization of his appointment and notarizing same to the entire structure of Abia State Government.
He noted that out of the five states, four have signed the MOU and only two: Abia and Anambra, have passed the motion on SENEC in their houses of assembly. He equally harped on the fact that the success and sustainability of SENEC is that all the governors need to become key participants in the evolution of the initiative.
He urged that the other states should pass the motion presently on the floors of their houses in the interest of developing sustainable economic/social integration in Igbo land.
He requested His Excellency to urge his fellow governors to re-nominate their various representatives on the interim board, especially the ones that have seized to be part of these Governments – States such as Anambra and Imo States.
He equally sought His Excellency’s intervention on a number of matters that had hitherto hindered the smooth take off of SENEC. Such issues include the provision of a temporary office and the allocation of strategically located land for a permanent complex in Enugu. The inauguration of an interim Board for the take – off of South East Nigeria Development fund (SENDEF) was also discussed.
The governor promised to invite the Chairman to the next meeting of the SE Governors’ Forum to enable him provide additional clarifications on some of the key issues that were discussed in the meeting.
The governor and Engr. Chris Okoye all agreed that the SENEC initiative is a powerful and potent instrument for the re- making of the economic/social structure of Igbo Land and called on all Igbos to embrace the initiative.
As they unanimously observed, the gains of SENEC are enormous if taken to the limits. The Governor who is presently the Interim Chairman Board of trustees, Senec based on his disposition as the Chairman of SE governor’s forum promised to do all in his powers to move SENEC forward.