Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, the top Igbo sociocultural organization, has once more entered the debate over the allocation of key National Assembly slots.
The group’s response was in response to Senator Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia’s complaint.
Rep. Ben Kalu of the same Abia State was given the job of Deputy Speaker of the House by the ruling All Progressives Congress, or APC.
The South-East, however, insists that it deserves more than Reps Deputy Speaker, according to Senator Kalu, a former governor of the State who is running to be the next Senate President.
In a statement issued in response to the happenings, the Ohanaeze Youths’ National President, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, advised Senator Kalu not to endanger the interests of the South-East by disguising himself as members of anonymous organizations and making pronouncements that serve his own interests.
Several anonymous organisations, he alleged in the statement, had been formed “to destroy what is coming to the South-East. According to their strategy, nothing should arrive unless Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is expecting it.
The Ohanaeze Youths praised the APC and the President-elect for Ben Kalu’s nomination as Deputy Speaker, saying it was a decision made on merit.
“Ben Kalu’s nomination is appropriate because of his many accomplishments and abilities, which are evidenced by the 43 bills, 22 motions, and 2 laws that the President has signed, placing him above his colleagues, particularly those who are running.
“He brought the largest investment, worth billions, to Igbo land from the federal government without diverting the money, and he has been well recognized in the media and on the street as the face of Ndigbo.
“As a spokesperson, he performed so admirably that Nigerians gave Igbos high marks for public relations and image-building.
“He supported his party against all difficulties; he is trustworthy and dependable and won’t put Igbos in a bad light.
He will exploit the satisfaction of the new administration to secure bigger dividends for the populace.
“Despite the wave, he was saved by his works; he won his elections based on what he did visibly for his people.
“Those who are criticizing him are those who believe his political stance will undermine their authority. They are acting in the region’s best interests, not their own.
Before we can reveal how they held Benjamin Kalu down for 22 years with nothing to show for his loyalty, Okwu urged those funding what he called “selfish attacks against Hon. Ben Kalu to desist. We will also give a graphic account of how he campaigned for his elections in 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, and 2023.
“Let those who worked more eat more; we are content with what has been given to us.”
He urged the incoming representatives to vote for Ben Kalu, promising them that he would work hard to promote national unity and progress.
We also beg all Nigerians to disregard this defamation effort coming from the same source but various anonymous organizations, he continued.
