Bende leaders distance Reps deputy Speaker Kalu from LP, read riot act to Onyejeocha

Don’t drag my name in the mud, Onyejeocha fires back

The members of Bend in e Leadership Forum (BLF) yesterday rose from an emergency meeting in Abuja distancing the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Kalu from the opposition Labour Party (LP).

Led by High Chief Kingsley Enwere, the leaders at a press conference in Abuja rejected in totality the claim that the Deputy Speaker, was engaging in anti party activities in Abia state chapter of the APC.

The group alleged that the campaign of calumny against Kalu clearly have the imprints of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha.

The group maintained that they cannot stand aloof and watch retrogressive forces to distract Kalu from discharging his duties as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

The group noted: “The Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, is not a member of the Labour Party and has no business in whatever issue that is ongoing between Nkeiruka Onyejeocha and the Labour party candidate, as he is very busy working on the duties and responsibilities of his office. It is regrettable that instead of working together with her brother, she has chosen to sponsor faceless groups to attack the Deputy Speaker.

“For purposes of recapitulation, Kalu is representing Bende Federal Constituency while Onyejiocha hails from Isiukwuato/Umunneochi federal constituency. Though both constituencies are in Abia State, there is no politics affinity between them as to ignite any interest.

“That in the history of Abia North this is the first time a son or daughter has ever attained the position of Deputy Speaker and that we will go to any length to protect Rt. Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu against external attacks and ensure he remains in that office just as we would have protected Onyejeocha if she was the one occupying it.

” That we are surprised that Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha seems to be having sleepless nights over the position of the Deputy speaker occupied by her own brother, Rt Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu. What we do not know is why she seems to be averse to the political successes of her own brother. That is anti Abia North, anti Igbo and Anti Human!

“That we knew Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu as a goal getter, who has always made Abia North and Abia state proud, the reason he was singled out as the Reps Spokesperson as a first timer in his first tenure. We are therefore not surprised at the turn of events.

“That as at the time Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu was elected Deputy Speaker, Hon Onyejeocha was not there, and still not a member of the National Assembly even up to this moment, one wonders whether she had expected the southeast, and the National Assembly and Nigeria to stand still and wait for her to reclaim her mandate before electing principal officers of the house of representatives.

“That we are aware that our daughter Onyejeocha had spent 3 tenures of 12 years in the National Assembly before her brother and our son Hon. Benjamin Kalu was elected, and that she didn’t ascend these positions she now covets from outside the national Assembly when there was no Benjamin Kalu in the National Assembly to contend with her.

“We had expected our daughter Onyejeocha, rather than feeling defeated, inferior, obsolete and depleted, to erupt with joy and be proud that in her absence, her own brother fulfilled her lifelong dreams in just 5 years, and as a veteran, embrace him, give him all the support, advise and encouragement he needs to succeed.

“That Rt. Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu is not responsible for his sisters political circumstances which may afterall be temporary as they do not belong to the same constituency and therefore should not be a victim of her misplaced and transferred aggression.

“That we advise Onyejeocha to concentrate on the job given to her as a minister which she holds in trust for the entire southeast than engaging in acts capable of pulling down her own brother from a position she, at least as at this moment cannot fill because till date, she is still not a member of the National Assembly!

“That if our daughter Onyejeocha prefers to be in the National Assembly again after 16 years, she should first resign her position as a minister, for another Abia North Son or daughter to replace her and then concentrate on reclaiming her supposed mandate.

“It is only after she has succeeded in reclaiming her supposed mandate that she can start scheming for a principal position in the National Assembly.

“That Nkeiruka Onyejeocha should cease forthwith from distracting her brother from discharging the duties for which he was elected and channel that energy towards job creation as our teeming youths need to be taken off the streets.”

Reacting, Onyejeocha has accused Kalu of feeling insecure since her victory at the tribunal, adding that it behooves the Bende elders to call him to order.

The Minister, while reacting through her Chief Press Secretary, Gabriel Emameh, said they should allow her concentrate on her job.

She noted: “Onyejeocha victory at the tribunal is the issue. Ask yourself when did this campaign started? Immediately she was declared winner of the election. We will not continue to drag ourselves to the mud with Benjamin Kalu. He alone knows what his problem. They should sit him down and ask him questions

“They should call their son to order. He ignited it. Nkeiruka is not fighting Kalu. Like they said, they are not from the same constituency.

“If truly they are elders and she is their daughter as they said, why didn’t they reach out to her to hear from her before taking a position. She is not fighting. They should ask Kalu to trace his nightmare and leave Onyejeocha alone.”