Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State have called on the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, to assume the leadership of the party in the state and the South-East region.

They made the plea during a courtesy visit to the deputy speaker in Abuja on Wednesday.

The APC leaders emphasised that Kalu, being the highest political office-holder from the South-East, is their rallying point to the Presidency.

They praised his exceptional leadership acumen, comparing him to the Biblical David, and believed he could unite the party’s members.

Led by Senator Chris Adighije, the APC leaders expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for granting the South-East a sense of belonging in the nation’s political hierarchy.

They also urged Kalu to quickly take necessary actions to unite the party in Abia State and the entire South-East.

In response, Kalu thanked the leaders for their support and urged them to emulate President Bola Tinubu’s leadership style, which has produced more national leaders.

He also emphasised the importance of unity among party members and called for reconciliation and inclusivity.

Kalu also expressed his gratitude to former Nigerian president, Muhammadu Buhari and former speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, for their support in his political journey.

“Let me not forget to thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, our party leader, who knew the South-East has never had any position among the high ranking leaders of the country for eight years, even though the South-East did not give him the greatest votes that will make him give us what we are asking for,” said Kalu. “He was magnanimous enough in victory to consider South-East as a region that needed to be part of the leaders of this country.

“I also want to thank my mentor in the parliament. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila without him I will not be sitting on this seat today. There were so many reasons for me not to be on this seat but like his own mentor, Asiwaju defended him whenever they came to attack him in his absence, Gbajabiamila defended that he was looking for a man that has capacity and content and character out of the southeast, and he saw one in Benjamin Okezie Kalu. And I thank my constituents for believing in me and elected me to be back here. If they didn’t vote for me from Bende federal constituency, the nation will not see that there’s a diamond hidden underneath the earth,” he said.

Kalu also promised to lead with the support of the party leaders and work towards strengthening the APC in Abia State and the South-East region.

During the meeting, Kalu was adorned in traditional Igbo attire and presented with symbolic gifts of a Bible and a machete, signifying strength.