Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR has known as on the Igbo individuals of the South East area to embrace strategic political alliance as a path to relevance, dividends of democracy, and a secured tomorrow.
Speaking through the inauguartion of Abia State All Progressives Congress (APC) Campaign Council in Umuahia on Thursday, Kalu stated the South East has been very profitable in enterprise through the years, rebuilding the area after the civil struggle with out authorities intervention, as a result of the persons are strategic of their pondering.
He stated the identical strategic formulation that made them affluent in enterprise should now be utilized to politics.
The Deputy Speaker who represents Bende Federal Constituency of the State stated it’s time for Ndi Igbo to choose up the technique of forming regional political alliance and handshake throughout the Niger to safe their political future.
He stated: “Ladies and gents, through the years, we’ve been very profitable in our enterprise as a individuals within the South East and we’ve been ready to obtain what we achieved submit civil struggle, rebuilding the South East with out the intervention of the federal government solely as a result of we’re strategic in our pondering however I need to let you know that why we’ve gotten it improper in our political development is that fairly than apply that formulation that had helped us in our companies, in our financial life, the Igbo have been sentimental.
“Sentiment doesn’t drive political development, participation, engagement and development. It doesn’t drive the dividends of democracy. It is about time that we dropped sentiment and choose up technique. And once I discuss technique, I discuss political technique. I discuss regional, political alliance of Ndi Igbo.
“To be alone is not an honour. To be alone is not a thing of pride. To work in silos is not what will define our people. We must come together with other regions, shake hands across the Niger so as to remain relevant in the scheme of things. Let no one deceive you that on our own, we can do it”.
Kalu who can also be the Deputy Director of APC Presidential Campaign Council (South) 11 recalled that some previous leaders of nation tried severally for the emancipation of their individuals politically, however failed till there was a handshake throughout the federation.
He warned that improper calculations will take Ndi Igbo backward, whereas proper calculations will take them ahead, stressing that the suitable calculation is to cease losing votes and begin investing them.
He recognized President Tinubu because the rewarding funding platform for Igbo votes, describing him as a pacesetter who doesn’t know the color of pores and skin, tongue or tribe, however sees, relates with, treats and positions everybody as a Nigerian, Kalu stated that he’s the type of man Ndi Igbo ought to give their votes to.
“There isn’t any pleasure in waste. What is strategic is to make investments our votes. And as Igbo, we’ve all the time made investments that yielded dividends. And that’s the reason we’re affluent. I can guarantee us in politics, there may be going to be a paradigm shift the place the Igbo will throw their votes right into a rewarding funding platform and that platform isn’t any aside from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“I preach about him not simply because he’s the President. I advocate for him as a result of I’m a core disciple of his political philosophy that believes in constructing legacies that may outlive a pacesetter, a philosophy that believes in non-tribal manner of administering a nation.
“That is what I believe in and that is why I follow him. He is a man who does not know the colour of your skin, tongue or tribe that you come from, sees you as a Nigerian, relates with you as a Nigerian, treats and positions you as a Nigerian, that is the man we should give our votes to. Igbo must wake up. It is time for the Igbo to arise and arm ourselves with our votes to take a position that belongs to us”, he stated.
The Deputy Speaker additionally rejected the thought of a four-year settlement for an Igbo presidency, insisting that after ready for nearly 60 years, Ndi Igbo deserve eight years and never 4, assuring Ndi Igbo that their time is coming.
“We can’t settle for 4 years settlement. Igbo are greater than 4 years settlement as a result of we’ve waited for nearly 60 years. When they arrive and preach to you that that is Igbo agenda, inform them that could be a wasteful Igbo agenda. Tell them that you really want to be strategic and the strategic manner of working now’s to align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Our time will come. We have waited for too long but let us not be weary of well doing for in due season, we shall reap if we faint not. Our time is coming. The Igbo nation’s time is coming and when it comes, it will be 8 and not 4 years,” he stated.
He added that Tinubu has laid a basis within the final three years and half years in workplace, and Nigerians will quickly start to see the bricks upon the inspiration, the roof upon the bricks, and the partitions of the constructing he’s constructing for the nation.
“Give a man like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu who has laid a foundation, I tell you that Nigerians will begin to see the brinks upon the foundation he has laid, the roof upon the bricks he has laid, the curve and the walls of the building that he is building for Nigerians and then, they will believe that he has not wasted the last 3 years but invested to build a nation we will be proud of. Let the Igbo arise and let our vote be counted”, he stated.
The Deputy Speaker whereas highlighting among the main achievements of the Tinubu administration in South East, stated they reduce throughout all of the sectors of the economic system of the area.
Inaugurating the Abia APC Campaign, Kalu charged the members numbering over 500 individuals to take the message of the Renewed Hope Agenda to the nooks and crannies of the State.
“I charge this Council to meet it with seriousness and discipline. Know the projects in Abia and their status, stay united in purpose, and be present in all 17 local governments and 184 wards”, he stated.
