The signing recently of the Bill establishing the North East Development Commission by the President General Muhammadu Buhari easily stands out as one of the most outstanding achievements of the present Government. It will be recalled that, the President on taking over the mantle of leadership promised that his Government will rebuild the North East in the wake of the devastation by the Boko Haram insurgents. The signing of the Bill establishing the Commission is thus a fulfillment of a promise and the discharge of a social contract with the people of the North East. It needs not be told that Mr. President by this singular act has endeared himself to the entire people of the North East. The onus now is on the people of the region to reciprocate the gesture by the President and the Federal Government. Equally deserving of appreciation in the struggle for the setting up of the Commission are, members of the National Assembly, the State Governors and political actors cutting across the political divide who worked tirelessly for the realization of the dream. Worthy of mention in this regard are, the Senate President and the Speaker of House of Representative. The people of the region especially those devastated by the insurgency have no words to express their gratitude to the President and all those who contributed in actualizing the dream. Although the people of the North East are predominately of the same political persuasion with the President, they owe him huge gratitude and support.
It is important to note that, the setting up of the Commission is but a step in a long and arduous march to rebuild the region. It must be told in very uncertain terms that an important requirement for realizing the purpose of establishing the Commission will to a large extent be dependent on the support of the North Easterners. The people of the region regardless of State of origin and political persuasion must close ranks to ensure the Commission is used as a vehicle to lift the region from its current state of backwardness and despair. We have no doubt that the unity envisioned is, feasible considering the fact that all States in the Region are from a common geographical origin once governed by the President. Besides, North Easterners substantially share common socio-economic and cultural affinity. Considering the unanimity in support for the creation of the Commission, there are hopes that its job will be easy. Despite this, there are many things associated with setting up of the commission that should not be taken for granted if it is to succeed. First and foremost is, the contention that those to drive the process must not only be versatile but exceptionally patriotic. The enormity of the challenge before the Commission definitely cannot be handled by those who don’t have what it takes to make it succeed. Fortunately, the North East is endowed with experienced technocrats who have excelled in their various professional callings. To this extent, there should be no room for experimentation. Rather, the Government should draw from this poll of technocrats in their various callings.
The other critical consideration is to have a well throughout Master plan to be followed for the purpose of rehabilitating and developing the region. The North Eastern States who are major stakeholders must take a cue from the ongoing initiatives in the South West and South Eastern parts of the country where strategies are being drawn for regional integration. A blue print for the rehabilitation and development to be pursued by the Commission should therefore be one that will promote regional integration. Major infrastructures like roads and bridges destroyed should be accorded priority. The Commission should have a strategy to address the widespread poverty, unemployment and educational backwardness. A framework that addresses these sectors is therefore necessary. The point should not also be lost on those to drive the process that the States that were epicenters of the insurgency should attract more attention. Areas to be addressed should be prioritized. There should therefore be no haphazard approach to dealing with the challenges. Areas that have direct and immediate impact on the life of the citizenry at the moment deserve attention. Other areas that should be accorded priority are revitalizing of sectors that will trigger industrial and commercial take off of the region. In this regards, the abandoned dams, mineral prospecting and farming sectors should attract attention. Other areas deserving of attention is empowerment of the citizenry. The Central Bank of Nigeria and the World Bank intervention and empowerment programmes designed to address poverty and problems of food security currently being faced are other major areas of concern. The thinking is, the NEDC should serve as a veritable medium to uplift the region in all strategic sectors.
The point should be stressed again that, the President and the Government have done their part. The ball is now in the court of the North Easterners. Generations yet unborn will definitely not forgive this generation if the trust is betrayed. Accordingly, the people of the region should set aside all narrow, sectional and divisive past times. What is important at the moment is, unity of purpose. Relatedly, an all-inclusive approach should be adopted in project citing, management participation and coverage by the Commission. No section of the region especially those impacted severely by the insurgency should be disadvantaged. The other issue requiring clarification by those at the helms of affairs is what role the Presidential Committee on the North East should play. There seems to be a consensus that they should be taken on board and should infact constitute the nucleus of the Commission. This is simply because the Committee is already conversant with the challenges facing the region and is perceived to have done exceptionally well. This consideration will in addition minimize duplication and wasting of time on things already in the pipeline. The need for continuity should also be a consideration. It is therefore advisable that the thinking should not be jettisoned.
To avoid wasting time, it is advisable those to be appointed to manage the affairs of the Commission must avoid the pitfalls that led to the failure of similar initiatives elsewhere. The attitude of corruption, wastages and the culture of sharing of public funds that have subverted the good intentions of the Government in the past must be avoided at all cost. What this means is, the Commission should be insulated from tendencies that will undermine the interest of the traumatized people of the region. The managers of the Commission must strive to make it succeed for all to see. This without being told is possible. The point should not also be glossed over and assumed that the problem of the North East in the wake of the insurgency is only about infrastructural rehabilitation. There are deep seated challenges that should be looked into. Factors that push people into extremism must be adequately addressed. Good governance and judicious use of available resources is also advisable. The model used in the Niger Delta despite its imperfections should be adopted. It is instructive that, Amnesty, rehabilitation and re-orientation of the militants were critical components of the programme although it was handled as a separate component. It is important to note, that the current level of dangerous weapons in circulation in the North East will continue to be a security threat unless degraded.
Finally, those to operate the North East Development Commission should note that, it is not just another bureaucracy. It should be operated with the highest standards of probity and best practice. The pitfalls that resulted in failure of similar initiatives as impressed earlier, must be avoided at all costs. A mechanism of openness and transparency should be enshrined from the onset. Also, a very robust watch dog arrangement and oversight process should be emplaced. The civil society should in addition be carried along from the word go. If all these measures are put in place, the Commission will definitely succeed in meeting the yearnings of the people of the North East.
A. A. Gadzama, a former Director General of State Security Service (SSS), wrote this piece from Abuja.
