Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has called on Ndigbo to think strategically and support President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election bid.

Kalu, while speaking during an interactive session with Imo State stakeholders and leaders in Abuja, commended President Tinubu’s strides towards the economic development of the South East, which for several years has suffered gross infrastructural decay.
Kalu said it was such a concern that made the President speedily assent to the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Bill, leading to the setting up of the commission to undertake the wholesale economic reconstruction of the region.

He appealed to Imo stakeholders to fully support the re-election bid of President Tinubu in the 2027 election by voting massively for him, and also urged the Igbo to fully be in the mainstream of Nigeria’s political development by being part of the government at the centre.

The Deputy Speaker, however, frowned at a situation where over four political parties would be struggling for votes in the South East, saying such situations would lead to the fragmentation of the votes and diminishing of the electoral strength of Ndigbo.

He assured that the Southeast has a lot to benefit from supporting the All Progressives Congress government of President Tinubu. He told the audience that all the resolutions agreed at the meeting would be communicated directly to the President for his action.

The Executive Director, Natural Resources, Agriculture and Rural Development at the SEDC, Dr. Cliff Ogbede, who was the Chief Convener, earlier in his remarks, thanked the Deputy Speaker for the democratic engagement with the people.

He said such an open-door policy of the Deputy Speaker is worthy of emulation, as the people’s recommendations and activities would help to articulate a better understanding and set an agenda for meaningful development by the government.

Ogbede also eulogised President Tinubu for his vision for the economic transformation of the South East, urging the people of the region to reciprocate by supporting the re-election bid of the President in 2027.

Prof. Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), called on Ndi-Imo to heed the advice of Kalu for the benefit of Ndigbo in the scheme of things.

The former Minister of Transportation, Dr. Kema Chikwe, urged all hands to be on deck to ensure that Igbos are not left out in the scheme of things, adding that Igbos should support Dr. Benjamin Kalu’s humble appeal for cooperation and understanding.

The Imo stakeholders urged the Deputy Speaker to appeal to President Bola Tinubu to urgently release Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, IPOB leader, from detention, as his continued incarceration is fueling insecurity in the South East.

They contended that his immediate and constitutional release would drastically reduce the security threats and untoward activities of some criminal gangs who use his name to torment innocent people.

Amb. Timothy Ihemadu, one of the organisers, in his speech, commended Kalu for his exemplary leadership style. He said the interactive session would provide an opportunity for better democratic participation and cross-fertilisation of ideas that would assist in policy formulation and implementation.

Dignitaries who attended the event included Hon. Emeka Chinedu, Ugwumba Uche Nwosu, former lawmakers, ministers, commissioners, academia, public officeholders, community leaders, youth and women leaders across Imo State and their friends.