Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Members of the Abia Labour Party (LP) Caucus in the House of Representatives have admonished the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, to use his exalted office to promote the collective interest of Ndigbo rather than instigate the Federal Government against the Abia State Government for selfish political gains.
The lawmakers, in a statement on Wednesday, accused Kalu of “talking down on Governor Alex Otti” and attempting to create a false impression that the Abia State Government was at odds with the Federal Government.
They warned the Deputy Speaker against actions capable of igniting political tension in the state, saying his utterances were unbecoming of a high-ranking national officer.
“Hon. Kalu has carried on with arrogance and recklessness, making provocative, sycophantic, and inflammatory statements both publicly and privately,” the statement read.
According to the lawmakers, Kalu’s conduct reflects “a deliberate strategy to incite the Federal Government and the ruling party at the centre against the Abia State Government while peddling falsehoods to discredit Governor Otti’s administration.”
The statement further described Kalu’s recent actions as “a replay of the same divisive tactics he used against leaders of his own party in the South-East,” adding that his behaviour was driven by “personal ambition and power-drunk tendencies, even at the expense of peace in Abia State.”
Expressing disappointment, the LP caucus said it was surprising that Kalu chose to repay Governor Otti’s goodwill with hostility.
“Unlike what is often seen elsewhere, opposition political office holders in Abia have enjoyed cordial relationships with the state government. Governor Alex Otti has consistently demonstrated political maturity and magnanimity towards Hon. Kalu.
“Upon his emergence as Deputy Speaker, the Governor hosted an elaborate state reception in his honour, attended by Labour Party officials and federal legislators. The Governor also directed all LP members from Abia to support Kalu’s emergence. Sadly, rather than reciprocate this goodwill, Kalu has chosen to sow seeds of discord.”
The lawmakers urged the Deputy Speaker to engage in sober reflection, reminding him that “decorum, not arrogance, defines true leadership.”
They also challenged Kalu to use his position to attract federal attention to Abia instead of blackmailing the state government.
“Governor Otti has facilitated and is executing numerous federal projects across Abia — including the Port Harcourt Road, Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, Omenuko Bridge, and the 25 km Umuahia–Ikot Ekpene Road soon to be flagged off.
These are tangible results — leadership that brings hope, creates jobs, opens up communities, and restores Abia’s pride.”
While noting that Kalu often boasts of being “number six” in national protocol, the Caucus said such a position should be used to advance the state’s development rather than for “cheap political games.”
The lawmakers urged Abians and Nigerians to disregard the Deputy Speaker’s “empty boasts and divisive rhetoric,” insisting that his actions were “driven by selfish ambition, not love for the people.”
They maintained that Governor Otti enjoys a cordial relationship with President Bola Tinubu and that “no amount of political scheming by Hon. Kalu can derail Abia’s steady progress.”
“Abians are politically discerning. They can see through Hon. Kalu’s antics and understand that his fight is not against one man but against the collective interest of good governance, peace, and progress in Abia State,” the statement added.
The Caucus called on Abians across party lines to remain united in support of Governor Otti’s transformational agenda and to resist any attempt by individuals to drag the state backward for personal gain.
