The house of representative on Thursday rejected a bill seeking the establishment of a development commission for the South East.
The bill was sponsored by Hon Chukwudi Wilfred.
According to some of the lawmakers who contributed to the debate on te floor of the house faulted the timing of the bill and the fact that promoters of the bill failed to consult widely before introducing the bill.
The House minority leader, Leo Ogor, while contributing to the debate, said that the introduction of the bill is a step in the right direction.
Ogor said, ”This country need to be restructured. We cannot continue the way we are going.”
“The bill is a good step in the right direction. I appeal with all that the bill be considered.”
A lawmaker from Adamawa state, Sani Zoro on his part said that that the promoters of the bill did not consult widely.
He said, “I won’t be comfortable that at the end of the day we leave here with acrimony. In view of the debate we have had so far we should consult further.”
Sunday Karimi from Kogi State faulted the introduction of the bill on the grounds that the South East was already covered in the programmes of the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC.
Karimi said, The creation of a south-east “will be too much.”
Supporting the bill, Sani Abdul, a lawmaker from Bauchi State said the agitation in the south east resulted from the failure of governance.
He said, “We should look at it holistically in other not to have a problem. We are worried, the timing of the bill with the agitation of Biafra is suspicious.”
After listening to both sides of the debate, the speaker of the House, Hon Yakubu Dogara put the vote to a voice vote and the bill was rejected.