“Nobody in Abia State today wants a repeat of the locust years when governance in Abia was left in the hands of ‘puff puff’ political elements parading as saviors but were mere dogs and pigs that brought Abia to its knees in shame and in filth, we have left that era and never going back to that garbage dump politics”
Driving from Umuahia to Arochukwu – Ohafia LGA through Bende, home to Rt.Hon. Benjamin Kalu, the representative of the people of Bende in Abuja and the acclaimed No.6 in the Nigerian power broker Plc, you would be mistaken to have embarked on a ride to the land of ‘nkorovon,’ narrow dead end with an early shoddy attempt to patch the unending potholes until you drive past the imposing renovated fence walling the residence of the Deputy Speaker, the road to DS Ben’s homeland is such an appalling sight to behold.
This is the only road leading to the home of Nigeria’s number 6 Power monger and recently, governorship aspirant hoping to unseat the only man that has brought quality and responsible governance to the people of Abia State.
Ben Kalu wants to take over from the working Labour Party led government of Gov Alex Otti and he had embarked on an early subtle campaign he has described as ‘would be sweet, plenty of iko onu, (Enough Yabis), entertaining’ and sure exudes enough confidence to lead as the Joshua of Abia.’
For everything Abia State lacks, it is certainly well compensated with vague biblical leadership icons, claiming savior roles, from Ochendo Abia, to Okezuo Abia, David of Abia and now Joshua of Abia in the person of Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
However, Ben Kalu’s confidence is certainly not farfetched from the ‘Aziza’ mentality as a leader of the Party with the broom and representing the Presidential Campaign structure in Abia State, Ben Kalu had enthused himself and his audience on how he’s going to use the ‘broom’ to sweep off ‘No electricity,’ no good road and all those common rhetoric, politicians of his pedigree has over flogged when they mount the campaign rostrum to deceive the people, even when Benjamin Okezie Kalu knows of a certainty that he do not possess the capacity to live by his word, he had to construct an immediate campaign lyrics to hoodwink his audience on what he’s going to do with the APC broom in Abia.
Unfortunately, neither Ben Kalu nor any of the acclaimed savior hopefuls has ever done a 10% of what the man they are struggling very hard to unseat in the coming 2027 gubernatorial elections, brewing every form of propaganda from the witch’s coven of brooms.
Let’s begin with the presence of the least and very basic amenity in Kalu’s constituency, the road leading to his residence from Umuahia. It is alleged DS Ben Kalu has made several promises on securing approval for the reconstruction of this village road baptized as ‘federal road’ but for over 8 years and counting, the best the people living in these area of Abia state has received from Rt. Hon Benjamin Kalu for all his years in government is patches upon patches and no meaningful infrastructure development nor attracting any quality development with his high-end political office.
This is the man that is singing to unseat H.E. Alex Otti, a governor that is tested and proven to do things differently for the benefit of the people and homeland Abia.
Simply put, Ben Kalu and his likes do not appear to have any programme for Abia State other than ‘grab it and run with it.’
This is not an assumption but a known fact, Abia people do not appear to give another manipulated nod for a political exigency they know too well that it does not bring any meaningful development other than ‘bragging right’, ‘puff-puff ego’, ‘scratch my back, I scratch yours’ and finally, ‘share the loot’ while the state suffers for the umpteenth time.
If for any reason any political actor chooses to compete with the Labour Party led government, ably led by the people’s governor, H.E. Alex Otti, we will be very proactive once again beginning from the background history of that man and the woman that is courageous enough to mount the political rostrum.
Beginning from the ambitious Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Rep. Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu to the least in every elective position in the State House of Assembly, we must know who you are, from your immediate community wherever you chose to reside, to the state capital, your pedigree and antecedents till date.
Residents of the New Abia under the people’s governor Alex Otti, do not appear as citizens that can be manipulated by another series of political rhetoric and vague ‘promises of Eldorado’
I am very certain nobody in Abia State today wants a repeat of the locust years when governance in Abia was left in the hands of ‘puff puff’ political elements parading as saviors but were mere dogs and pigs that brought Abia to its knees in shame and in filth, we have left that era and never going back to that garbage dump politics and if the Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu thinks otherwise, perhaps it will suffice to remind him of his political sojourn till date.
Beginning from his ‘selection’ as Bende Local Government Chairman under the government of ex-Governor Orji Uzo Kalu, Benjamin Kalu’s political trajectory traced him back to that era of the OUK’s fiefdom of mother, son and ‘hallelujah boys’ stringed under mysterious political manipulation of loyalty that opened the door to the ruin of Abia State as a region of environmental confusion, unproductive, dirty, economic retrogression and very poor political leadership that lacked responsibility both to the state and the citizenry for over 23 years.
Moreso, Ben Kalu had made three attempts at the Federal House of Assembly (2002, 2015 and 2019) and two successful appearance as spokesperson of the Federal House of Representative, representing the good people of Bende Federal Constituency and now Deputy Speaker and for all these years, Bende Federal Constituency ranks one of the least developed regions in Abia State and if there has been any genuine attempt at bringing development to the constituency, 90% of the credits would certainly go to the Gov Alex Otti led Labour Party government.
Nevertheless, it is certainly the right of the Honorable Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives to stand out for the Abia State gubernatorial election scheduled for 2027.
“However, the sight of Umuahia-Bende road, this only road leading to his home for all the years he has been in government will continue to reveal the genuine intentions of a man who sees the privileged access to political power as a means to an ultimate end in self gratification rather than a call to service.
As a former governor of the Old Imo State, the Late Dee Sam Mbakwe would put it during his campaign days when he was asked why is he not campaigning vigorously like others, the Late Sam Mbakwe responded; “the roads I constructed campaign for me, the industries I built campaign for me, the schools and their happy teachers will campaign for me, the workers and the residents campaigns for me and If they don’t, then I don’t need to be governor.”
Is Abia state today better under the astute management of Gov Alex Otti or worse compared to its locust years under such political actors in the mold of the Deputy Speaker. Whatever it is let your works campaign for you rather than your vain political rhetoric, Abia is never going back to the garbage dump, Never, Ever!
Njoku Jerry A. is the regional Ambassador, State of African Ambassador (SOAD) and State Publicity Secretary, Labour Party Abia
