From Okwe Obi, Abuja
Ahead of the 2027 poll, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu has called on Ndigbo to support the re-election of President Bola Tinubu, for the region to continue to benefit from many development projects of the federal government.
Kalu stated this at the weekend during an interactive session with Imo State stakeholders and leaders in Abuja.
He expressed delight for the genuine concern and commitment President Tinubu has shown towards the economic development of the South East, which he claimed 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 with Ndigbo across the five states in the south east regularly wherever they are 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.
He advised that the Igbo 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 the people that the 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.
On his part, Dr Cliff Ogbede, the Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development at the South East Development Commission, thanked Kalu 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.
A former Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Maurice Iwu, called on Ndi-Imo to heed the advice of Kalu for the benefit of Ndigbo in the scheme of things.
In addition, a former minister of Transportation, Dr Kema Chikwe, urged all hands to be on deck to ensure that the Igbo are not left out in the scheme of things, adding that Igbo should support Kalu’s appeal for cooperation and understanding.
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