The Deputy Speaker of the House of House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has called on traditional rulers in the South East to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, saying the President was interested in the development of the region.
Kalu, who spoke at a meeting with members of the Bende Traditional Rulers Council at the weekend, also said the President was happy that Ndi Igbo are resolved to stamp out insecurity and addressing other sociological challenges through the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P).
The Deputy Speaker asked them to support the government of the day to reap more benefits there-from.
He said: “Wherever Ndi Igbo see themselves, they encourage peace and harmony. We thank you for holding these values. I am your representative in the House of Representatives. I did not get there on my own. It was you that elected me. And this is why Abia State honoured me.
“A few days ago, the Governor of the state, Dr. Alex Otti, who is not a member of my party, decided to honour me with a high title in Abia. He told the Abia State Traditional Rulers Council to confer on me ‘Enyi Abia” (Strength of Abia). He must have seen something in your son.
“A day after that day, you saw what happened in Bende. It has never happened before. President Tinubu represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, the Senate President represented by his deputy, my boss, the speaker of the House of Representatives, the governor of the State, Dr. Alex Otti, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State, other governors who couldn’t make it in person, came through their deputies.
“The Ooni of Ife, Emir of Kano, Emir of Bichi, Obi of Onitsha, over 15 Igbo billionaires were in Bende. I can go on and on.
“On this position, we are just starting work. The President called to say I am very, very happy that the Igbo came together for this. Truly, there is hope for the Igbo man. It does appear that this handshake across the Niger has started.
“Let us also support the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Some were afraid whether he will remember the Igbo. But he has proved all of us wrong by choosing the Chief of Naval Staff.
“The President also handed over the issue of Infrastructure into the hands of an Igbo son, Senator David Umahi, my friend, the former governor of Ebonyi to replicate what he did in Ebonyi in Nigeria. There are others too. A President who does not love Ndi Igbo will not do that”.
Kalu also called on the traditional rulers to support the government of Dr. Alex Otti of Abia to develop the state.
Kalu, who was meeting with the traditional rulers for the first time since his election as the deputy speaker on June 13, 2023, appreciated the traditional rulers for their support.
He promised to attract more dividends of democracy to Bende, pledging not to disappoint them.
“I said that it won’t be nice if I leave for Abuja after all we did without interacting with you. So, I decided to call you to honour you. There is no position that will make me forget you. I will never disrespect you. You are our traditional rulers and I respect you all. And it will continue that way.”
Kalu also enjoined the monarchs to support PISE-P and the newly passed South East Development Commission bill in the House of Representatives.
“Again, I am tired of the blood of my brothers flowing on the streets. I am saying, let us try another way of resolving our issues. Non-kinetic is the way. And soon, you will see what peace in the South East Project will achieve.
“It is high time the Igbo joined the mainstream of political leadership of the country. Please, continue to pray for us. Be a part of the South East Development Commission. Please, be a part of PISE-P. You have a role to play”, he said.
Responding on behalf of the traditional rulers, the Chairman, Bende Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Uchendu Okorie said: “We will support President Tinubu. We will go wherever he goes. We will follow our son where he goes. We have not had it so good like this before. He is a man of wisdom, an orator. We will help him to go higher. Yes, he’s in the House right now but we want him to go higher
“In the next dispensation, let us try to see whether he will go higher. He has the capacity to do what is right. God will continue to uplift him. He’s not doing it for himself. He’s doing it for Bende. We will continue to go with him”, he said.