The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has thrown its weight behind Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the Senate Committee Chairman on the South East Development Commission (SEDC), following his stringent demands for transparency regarding funds allocated to the commission.
In a press statement signed by COSEYL’s President General, Goodluck Ibem, the apex socio-political youth body in the region described Senator Kalu’s recent intervention during a Senate oversight session as “courageous, principled, and uncompromising.” COSEYL emphasized that the proper utilization of the SEDC funds is critical to addressing the long-standing infrastructural deficits, ecological challenges, and economic hurdles facing the South East geopolitical zone.
The group noted that for the commission to achieve its core mandate, absolute accountability must be maintained from the onset. ”Senator Kalu’s stance is a reflection of the yearning of the people of the South East. We cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past where interventionist agencies became conduits for personal enrichment rather than public development,” Ibem stated in the release.
The development follows a tense Senate oversight session where Senator Kalu questioned officials over the deployment and management of resources earmarked for the region’s development. COSEYL commended the lawmaker for refusing to rubber-stamp financial reports, asserting that his oversight actions protect the interests of ordinary citizens in the region.
The youth coalition urged the leadership of the SEDC to cooperate fully with the Senate Committee, warning that the youth of the region will remain vigilant and resist any attempt to mismanage or divert public funds meant for the transformation of the South East.
