Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the alleged demolition of properties belonging to Igbo residents in Lagos State.
Kalu also urged the President to establish a seaport in the South-East to boost trade and drive economic growth in the region.
In a statement issued on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Deputy Speaker made the plea on Friday during the commissioning of infrastructure projects executed by the Abia State Government in Aba.
Describing the reported demolition as “worrisome and disheartening,” Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, urged the Lagos State Government to create avenues for affected property owners to regularize their documents rather than resort to demolitions.
“Mr President, I also want to say that the destruction and demolition of the houses and offices of our brothers in Lagos make our hearts bleed. For some of them who have not gotten the right documents, my plea is for you to appeal to the governor of Lagos State to keep accommodating our brothers and allow them to rectify their documents instead of demolishing their buildings.
“It bleeds our hearts that during these hard times, people’s houses are being destroyed. But I know that Mr President, who cares for the Igbos and appointed one of them as the first Minister of Finance in his administration, will listen to our plea,” Kalu said.
Highlighting the South-East’s status as a commercial hub dominated by traders, Kalu urged President Tinubu — who was represented at the event by the Minister of Works, Senator Dave Umahi — to consider the establishment of a functional seaport in the region to ease the movement of goods and enhance trade.
“Mr President, we want to thank you as Abians for what you are doing in our state through our governor and across the South-East. But we also need a port in the region. The South-East is home to traders, and a seaport will significantly enhance our commercial activities,” he said.
Kalu further urged Governor Alex Otti and the people of Abia to acknowledge President Tinubu’s support for states following the removal of the fuel subsidy, saying such recognition would encourage more federal interventions.
“As you know, I am a member of the APC, but when it comes to development, it is important that citizens remember we are first members of our states before our political parties. If you love your state, irrespective of your governor’s party, you must work with him to succeed,” he said.
Kalu noted that he had always maintained good working relationships with past Abia governors, regardless of party affiliation, adding that effective governance requires cooperation between the state and the federal government.
“As the Deputy Speaker, I represent the people of the South-East, and Abia is part of that region. There’s no reason I won’t identify with my governor. The projects the President has supported should be acknowledged so that Abians understand that the President is partnering with Governor Otti.
“It is our belief as Igbos that when you thank a helper, he will do more. If we want more from the President, we must give him due credit for what he has already done so that he can release more support for Abia State,” Kalu added.
