Deputy Speaker Kalu advocates Igbo support for Tinubu

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has called on Ndigbo to think strategically and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the 2027 election approaches to continue to benefit from many development projects and programmes of the federal government. Kalu stated this on Thursday during an interactive session/dinner with Imo state stakeholders […]

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has called on Ndigbo to think strategically and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the 2027 election approaches to continue to benefit from many development projects and programmes of the federal government.

Kalu stated this on Thursday during an interactive session/dinner with Imo state stakeholders and leaders in Abuja.

He expressed his delight and appreciation for the genuine concern and commitment President Tinubu has shown towards the economic development of the South East, which for several years has suffered gross infrastructural decay. Kalu said it was such concern that made the President to speedily assent to the South East Development Commission Bill, leading to the setting up of the commission to undertake the wholesale economic reconstruction of the region.

He stressed that as Deputy Speaker and the only Igbo in the top hierarchy of governance in the country, he has the responsibility to engage and relate very closely with Ndigbo across the five states in the south east regularly wherever they are, whether in Nigeria or in Diaspora for them to be well informed about government programmes and projects, and at the same time get their feedback for the collective interest of all Igbo people in particular and Nigerians in general. He stressed the need for such interactions and democratic engagements to be regular.

Kalu appealed to Imo stakeholders to fully support the re-election bid of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 election by voting massively for him.

He advised that Igbo people should fully be in the mainstream of Nigeria’s political development by being part of the government at the centre.

The Deputy Speaker frowned at a situation where over four political parties would be struggling for votes in the south east, saying such situations lead to the fragmentation of the votes and diminishing of the electoral strength of Ndigbo.

He assured that South East has a lot to benefit from supporting the All Progressives Congress government of Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He told the audience that all the resolutions agreed at the meeting would be communicated directly to the president for his action.

Kalu further stated that the people should feel free to give a fair assessment of his performance as the Deputy Speaker who is representing Ndigbo at the central government.

Dr Cliff Ogbede, the Executive Director Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development at the South East Development Commission who was the Chief Convener, earlier in his remarks, thanked the Deputy Speaker for the democratic engagement with the people.

He said such an open door policy of the Deputy Speaker is worthy of emulation, as the people’s recommendations and activities would help to articulate better understanding and set agenda for meaningful development by the government.

Ogbede also eulogized President Tinubu for his vision for the economic transformation of the South East, urging the people of the region to reciprocate by supporting the reelection bid of the President in 2027.

Prof Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), called on Ndi-Imo to heed the advice of Kalu for the benefit of Ndigbo in the scheme of things.

Dr Kema Chikwe. former minister of Transportation urged all hands to be on deck to ensure that Igbos are not left out in the scheme of things, adding that Igbos should support Dr Benjamin Kalu’s humble appeal for coperation and understanding.

Speaker after speaker, lauded the efforts of Kalu as a servant leader who is positively projecting the good image of Ndigbo at the national level and also ensuring that the south east is fully captured in the development programmes of the federal government under the able leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The Imo stakeholders told the Deputy Speaker to appeal to President Bola Tinubu to urgently release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, from detention as his continued incarceration is fuelling insecurity in the south- east. They contended that his immediate and constitutional release would reduce drastically the security threats and untoward activities of some criminal gangs who use Mazi Nnamdi Kanu’s name to torment innocent people.

The Imo stakeholders thanked the National Assembly and President Tinubu for setting up the South-east Development Commission and called for the speedy release of the funds of the commission so that it could commence the implementation of its projects and other activities.

Amb. Timothy Ihemadu, one of the organisers, in his speech, commended Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu for his exemplary leadership style. He said the interactive session would provide an opportunity for better democratic participation and cross-fertilisation of ideas that would assist in policy formulation and implementation.

Amb.Ihemadu thanked the Imo state stakeholders for the massive attendance within a short notice and promised that such engagements would be encouraged to be more regular.

He commended the Deputy Speaker and Imo stakeholders for their maturity in addressing all the critical issues raised at the meeting.

Dignitaries who attended the event included Hon Emeka Chinedu, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, former Lawmakers, Ministers, Commissioners, the academia, public office holders, community leaders, youth and women leaders across Imo state and their friends.