SEDC: Stakeholders Call for Constructive Oversight, Rally Behind MD Mark Okoye
Key stakeholders in the South East region have lent their voices in the call for constructive engagement and institutional support for the Managing Director of the South East Development Commission (SEDC), Mr. Mark Okoye, following his recent appearance before the Senate Committee overseeing the Commission.
Among those weighing in on the issue is Abia-born activist, Dr. Emeka Nzekwe, who argued that while legislative oversight remains essential in a democracy, such engagements should strengthen institutions rather than create public spectacles capable of undermining confidence in them.
Okoye recently came under intense scrutiny during a session with the Senate Committee on the South East Development Commission, a development that generated widespread reactions among stakeholders and citizens across the region.
In an article titled "SEDC, Mark Okoye and the Politics of Public Humiliation," Dr. Nzekwe maintained that accountability and transparency are necessary pillars of governance, but warned against approaches that could weaken one of the region's most important development institutions.
According to him, the SEDC was established to address decades of infrastructural deficits, economic dislocation, youth unemployment, environmental concerns and broader developmental challenges confronting the South East, noting that the Commission remains in its formative stage and requires stability and cooperation from all stakeholders.
He stated that since assuming office, Okoye has focused on building structures, systems and implementation frameworks required to transform the Commission into an effective vehicle for regional development.
Dr. Nzekwe argued that oversight engagements should concentrate on measurable performance indicators, project execution and financial accountability rather than media-driven exchanges that overshadow the substantive work of the Commission.
He also expressed concern over what he described as a recurring trend in which institutions and leaders from the South East appear to face their harshest criticisms from within the region itself.
While acknowledging the constitutional powers of the Senate Committee chaired by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the activist stressed that public accountability and institutional preservation should go hand in hand.
"The South East cannot afford another cycle where its most important development institutions become battlegrounds for political rivalries," he stated.
He further maintained that the success of the SEDC should rise above political interests and personal disagreements, insisting that if Okoye fails to perform, he should be judged on facts and measurable outcomes.
According to him, where progress is being made in building systems, attracting partnerships and laying the foundation for regional transformation, the Commission deserves encouragement alongside scrutiny.
He also faulted allegations of abuse of office and financial impropriety in connection with the office space of the Commission. According to him, contrary to claims that the commission occupies a small office space rented at the cost of N150m, it is housed in a fully furnished duplex where various departments perform their duties.
Dr. Nzekwe therefore called for greater collaboration and strategic support for the SEDC, stressing that history would ultimately judge stakeholders not by disagreements in hearing rooms but by whether the Commission succeeds in delivering meaningful development to the South East.
He urged leaders and stakeholders across the region to prioritize collective commitment and constructive oversight capable of fostering public confidence in the Commission and advancing the aspirations of the South East people.
