Abia PDP Slams Ben Kalu's APC Ambitions, Exposes Federal Government's Neglect of Southeast | #NwokeukwuMascot

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Abia PDP Condemns Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu's Remarks, Highlights APC's Disregard for the Igbo Nation | #NwokeukwuMascot

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The Abia State chapter of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed strong disapproval of recent statements made by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ben Kalu, regarding the future political alignment of Abia State. In a controversial statement, Kalu boldly asserted that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would produce the next governor of Abia State in 2027, arguing that the people of Abia need to align with the federal government for proper governance. He also justified this claim by citing his position as the sixth most senior official in the national order of precedence, implying that having a governor from a different party would be inappropriate.

In a statement signed by Elder Abraham Amah, Head of the Abia PDP Media Team, the Abia PDP has strongly rejected Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu's assertions, calling them misguided and out of touch with Abia's political realities. The statement, titled "Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu Is Turning History Upside Down," accuses Kalu of distorting historical facts to advance his personal and party agenda. The PDP emphasized that Kalu's role as Deputy Speaker and representative of Bende Federal Constituency does not confer the authority to speak for the entire state or the Igbo nation.

Abia PDP took issue with Kalu's boast about being the sixth in the national order of precedence, pointing out that this position underscores the APC's consistent marginalization of the Southeast. The party highlighted that there are six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, and the fact that the Southeast occupies the last position in the national hierarchy is a stark reminder of the APC's low regard for the Igbo people. The PDP contrasted this with the treatment of the Southeast during its time in power, noting that under PDP leadership, the region was compensated with the prestigious position of Senate President, the third-highest in the order of precedence.

The statement reads, “The attention of the Abia PDP has been drawn to the very callous statement made the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Ben Kalu, wherein he said that the APC will produce the next governor of Abia State, because the good people of Abia need to be aligned properly with the government at the centre. Not done with this assertions which was clearly inspired by wishful thinking, Mr. Kalu went ahead to state that being the number 6 person in the order of precedence in Nigeria, it was wrong for him to have a governor from a different party. 

“Abia PDP is gravely concerned that Mr. Ben Kalu has wrongly appropriated the rights to speak for the good people of Abia State. He is also turning history upside down by projecting a narrative that is clearly false, and must be debunked on other to set the records straight. 

“Being a Speaker of the House of Representatives that represents, and the one who represents Bende federal constituency does not mean that he has suddenly become the mouth piece of the people of Abia State or the Igbo nation.

“It is imperative to remind Mr. Kalu that his position as number 6 in the National Order of Precdence is not something to boast about because it clearly shows the ignominy with which the APC has treated the Igbo nation. He should be reminded that there are six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, and the fact that the South East placed 6th, and last position is a clear indication that the APC government at the centre does not regard the Igbo nation highly. 

“It is also important to remind Mr. Kalu that during the reign of the PDP at the centre, the South East was better compensated with the position of the Senate President, the third position in the Order of National Precedence, and none of the five Senate Presidents from the South East ever tried to railroad or corralled the entire Igbo nation to the PDP. Beyond that, the South East occupied other important positions in the PDP government like the Minister of Finance, Chief of Army Staff, Nigerian Ambassador to United States and Canada, and other important positions which the APC government has denied the Igbo South East in its nine-year reing.

Watch Video of Ben Kalu’s Controversial Speech below 👇🏽 

The Abia PDP reminded Ben Kalu that the Igbo people, known for their independent spirit, resist political manipulation and criticized the APC's record, highlighting the severe poverty and hardship inflicted on Nigerians, particularly in the Southeast, under the party's federal leadership. The PDP argued that aligning with a party responsible for such suffering is harmful to both Abia State and the Igbo nation.

Additionally, the PDP dismissed Kalu's claim that the Southeast Development Commission (SEDC) bill should garner Igbo support for the APC, clarifying that the SEDC was the result of efforts by PDP Senator and not a favor from the APC. The party noted that other regions with development commissions have not felt pressured to align with the ruling party.

“The Igbo people are republican in nature, and nobody tells them what to do, especially when it involves following the bandwagon of a party that has subjected Nigerians, especially the Igbo nation to untold poverty and hardship.

“The Abia PDP advises Mr. Ben Kalu to concentrate on doing his job as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and should desist from making statements that put the Igbo nation to ridicule. 

“It is also laughable that Mr. Kalu will use the passage of the South East Development Commission, SEDC as a gambit to draw the Igbo nation to the APC. He should be reminded the works that culminated to the SEDC was started by a PDP Senator, Stella Oduah during her stint in the Senate. The SEDC is clearly did not do the Igbo nation a favour because SEDC was already long overdue, and other zones that have development commissions established for them by the federal government have not all flocked to the ruling party at the centre.

“Abia PDP calls on the good people of Abia State to pardon the ignorance of Mr. Kalu, and ensure that they do the right thing in 2027 by returning the PDP to power. PDP: Power to the People!” Statement concluded.

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