Get Guardian on Google…Community dissociates itself from political chants, tenders unreserved apology to Deputy Speaker
The Item Development Association (IDA), Aba Branch, has condemned the disruption of the speech of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, during the 2026 Item Cultural Day celebration in Aba, Abia State.
The association also dissociated the Item community in Aba from the incident, insisting that the conduct of those responsible did not reflect the values and character of its people.
It consequently tendered an unreserved apology to the Deputy Speaker over the embarrassment caused by the disruption.
The cultural festival was held at the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, Aba, on Saturday, November 7, 2026.
Item is a major community in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, with three of the 13 electoral wards that make up the constituency.
The people of Item resident in Aba had invited Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, to grace the occasion.
Despite having spent the day in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, attending the APC presidential campaign rally, the Deputy Speaker proceeded to Aba to honour the invitation.
However, his speech at the cultural event was disrupted by political chants from some persons at the venue, an incident that subsequently attracted the condemnation of the Item community’s leadership.
In a statement jointly signed by the Chairman of IDA, Aba Branch, Chief David Kalu Uduma, and its Secretary, Mr Sunday Peter Iroegbu, the association described the conduct of those involved as unruly and the handiwork of mischief makers.
The association said it sincerely regretted the embarrassment caused to Kalu, stressing that the incident should not be interpreted as the position of the Item people.
“The leadership of Item Development Association (IDA), Aba Branch, on behalf of the entire Item community in Aba, wishes to dissociate itself from the unfortunate incident that occurred during the speech of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Ph.D, CFR, at the Item Cultural Festival held at the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology, Aba, on Saturday, 7th November 2026.
“We categorically condemn the unruly conduct of a few persons, which we consider the handiwork of mischief makers, and sincerely regret the embarrassment it caused,” the statement said.
The association regretted that an occasion organised to celebrate the cultural heritage and unity of the Item people was politicised through the actions of some individuals.
It maintained that those responsible for the political chants were not representative of the Item community, describing its people as peace-loving, cultured and respectful of constituted authority.
“The people of Item are peace-loving, cultured and respectful of constituted authority. Such conduct does not reflect our values or represent the character of our people,” it added.
The association further tendered an unreserved apology to Kalu and expressed appreciation for what it described as his statesmanlike disposition in the face of the incident.
“We therefore tender our unreserved apologies to the Distinguished Deputy Speaker and deeply appreciate his statesmanlike disposition in the face of the unfortunate incident,” the statement said.
The association’s intervention underscored its desire to distance the Item community from the controversy and reaffirm its respect for the Deputy Speaker.
