Stay away from protests, Kalu tells Ndigbo

Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has called on his constituents, the residents of Abia State and the entire people of South East geopolitical zone not to join the planned nationwide protest, saying it is counter-productive.

Kalu said that the federal government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is addressing the region’s challenges, saying that the assent given to the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill showed he cared for the people.

A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu stated that the deputy speaker gave the advice on Sunday while meeting with stakeholders of All Progressives Congress (APC) across the 13 electoral wards of Bende Federal Constituency he represents in the National Assembly.

Kalu enjoined the people to be patient with the government, stressing that it has put in place positive policies and measures that will ameliorate the problems of the people.

To this end, he asked his constituents and Igbo youth to take the message to all the nooks and crannies of the region.

He said: “There is hunger in the land and people are agitating but my brothers, I want you to be the advocates that will go to the villages and tell people to calm down, a solution is coming. If there is no other reason to believe that this government loves Ndi Igbo, let it be that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria listened to your son when I cried out in the parliament and gave us South East Development Commission.

“Other people cried in the 8th and 9th assemblies, I was there. Within one year in office of this president and my close working relationship with him as the deputy speaker, he signed it.

“He has never turned his back on me. He has never discriminated against me. He knows I believe in him and his political philosophy. When I make proposals and he gets to know, the President of Nigeria gives listening ears to my cry.

“So, I came home to tell you that your son sponsored a bill that didn’t pass the first and second times but this time around, the President signed the bill into law.

“He has fixed the problem of Igbo man. In the minds of many people, the Civil War truly ended the day he signed that bill. This is the man who said that after 54 years, Igbos have not been listened to but now, that Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Rehabilitation you have been asking for, here it is in the SEDC”.

He therefore called for standing ovation for President Tinubu on his decision to sign the bill, stressing that there are also appeals to the authorities for the release of the leader of Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

The deputy speaker added that the only way to reciprocate Tinubu’s kind gestures to Ndi Igbo is to sustain the peace and reject to call to join the looming protest.

“There is a saying that when you appreciate your benefactor, he does more for you. Our next plea is that the President will release our brother, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“I was with Nnamdi Kanu recently and told him what we are doing. He hugged me and said I like what you are doing. He said when I come out, I am joining PISE-P. He told me that the Biafra we are looking for is that good road, the hospital and all that the SEDC will bring. That is what we are looking for. He said if the President signs this bill into law, it means that he is deliberate in loving Ndi Igbo. Now, Mr. President has proven he loves Ndi Igbo. He has played the ball into our court. It is now left for us.

“The only way we will reciprocate is to sustain peace and say ‘no’ to protest and say ‘yes’ to process. The process is the policy-making and implementation measure that needs time. The process is making Nigeria better. That’s what we should say ‘yes’ to. It takes time. We must be patient. Mr. President knows that the times are tough. He is aware that the people are complaining including you but he is saying we should be a little patient.

“So, you will take this message to the nooks and crannies of Bende, Abia State and South East. Tell them that Mr. President means well.”

Kalu also appealed to the leaders across all levels of government to show benevolence to the people, especially at this time of dire need.

“This is the time to be with your people, calm their nerves, give them hope and solve their problems. Leaders, go to your communities and be with your people. Hear them and solve their problems. You may not solve all of them but at least, show them love and care. This is my message to all the leaders whether elected or appointed. Stand with the people. Provide succour. Don’t wait for all the solutions to come from President Tinubu. There is a little you can do, start doing it.

“You can contribute to national unity, cohesion and integration. We have no other country than this. Be your brother’s keep. This is not politics. The message for nation-building now is not about politics but humanity. Don’t leave it to the government and leaders alone. We must come together as one nation to build our country. What is the essence of having 1000 bags of rice, beans and Garri in my house when my neighbour is looking for one cup to eat? That’s the face of humanity I am preaching. We all in Bende, Abia and Nigeria must embrace humanity and the elements that come with it which include caring for one another. That’s how God made it to be. If we begin to distribute wealth, nobody will care about protest. Our sons and daughters should not join the protest,” he said

Kalu cautioned those behind the protest to think about the consequences of their actions.

“Those who are organizing the protest don’t know the extent it will get to. They only know how to commence it. Don’t start what you cannot control. It’s your right, yes, but what about the right of the other person? It’s your constitutional right but make sure you don’t breach the right of the other.

“Then what happened after the protest? I believe in lobbying and negotiation to resolve conflicts. We have agitated with violence and crisis, it didn’t work but we have used lobbying through PISE-P and it worked. We got what we had not gotten for 54 years. I want to assure you that if we use lobbying and non-kinetics means, we will get what we are looking for. So, I urge you to take this message across. This President loves Ndi Igbo and I am a true example of that “, Kalu said.