South East Patriots Condemn Misuse of Development Commission Funds
A group, South East Patriots, led by Ephraim Ojiakor, has condemned the diversion of funds from the South East Development Commission to sponsor the activities of βCity Boys,β describing the move as a betrayal of the commissionβs core mandate.
In a statement issued by the group, the Patriots argued that the commission was established primarily to address the infrastructure deficit and developmental challenges in the South East, not to serve as a channel for distributing funds to political groups under the guise of empowerment.
According to the group, allocating development funds to such activities undermines the purpose for which the commission was created and deprives communities in the region of much-needed projects such as roads, schools, hospitals, and other critical infrastructure.
The Patriots warned that when funds meant for development are handed to groups for βempowerment,β a large portionβoften more than 70 percentβends up in the pockets of a few leaders of the group, while the intended beneficiaries receive little or nothing.
They further contrasted the situation with the operation of similar regional development commissions in other parts of the country, where funds are deployed directly for infrastructure and economic development in their respective regions.
The group called on relevant authorities to ensure transparency, accountability, and strict adherence to the mandate of the South East Development Commission, stressing that the resources meant for the development of the South East must not be turned into instruments of political patronage.
South East Patriots maintained that the people of the region deserve the full benefits of the commission through visible and measurable development projects rather than politically motivated spending.
