Benjamin Kalu esq., the front-line APC candidate for House of Representatives, Bende Federal Constituency is currently in Germany to visit Dr. Orji Kalu, his close ally and political leader, in the hospital where the former Governor returned to for medical check-up.
Recall that Dr Orji Kalu underwent a major surgery in Germany shortly after the election primaries, during which time Benjamin Kalu Esq. was on holidays with his family in Sydney Australia to rest after the primaries.
Drum Africa News’ German correspondent, Paul Werz, contacted BenKalu as he is popularly called, to secure an interview.
WERZ: You are the candidate of a major party in Nigeria for the coming elections in 2019. Why are you here in Germany at this time?
BENKALU: I am in Germany to see my big brother and close political ally, His Excellency, Dr. Orji Kalu, who recently underwent a major surgery and is back here for a follow up medical checkup. His Excellency and I are also finalizing strategies to sweep away bad governance in the Abia North senatorial zone as well and also ensure that Bende Federal Constituency is ably represented in the House of Representatives.
WERZ: Why a hospital in Germany and not in Nigeria?
BENKALU: Mr. Prof. Dr. med. Kleinschmid is His Excellency’s longtime physician. He is a renowned international doctor with patients all over the world including the Saudi Royal family’s doctor. Dr. Kleinschmid has a full knowledge and experience of His Excellency’s medical history and was therefore in the best position to perform a successful major surgery leading to a remarkable recovery in such a short period ahead of the coming elections.
WERZ: And how is the former Governor doing considering that the election is just 2 months away?
BENKALU: Remarkably well, actually. I am satisfied that Dr. Kalu’s condition is being well managed by the best hands in the world of medicine, as evidenced by his speedy recovery to the shock of many. I pray that the Almighty God would continue to sustain and grant him perfect health. I am convinced that he is coming back stronger than he left. Even though he still has a couple of check-ups to do on his next visit in January, his energy level is high. High enough to move in with his political hurricane to sweep off the bad governance of the current PDP government; especially in the Abia North Senatorial zone.
WERZ: Are you bothered by the campaign activities of PDP in the Abia North Senatorial zone?
BENKALU: No.
There is no reason to be. While APC is busy building roads in Abia North, PDP is busy contributing money, including selling of their houses in Lagos, to buy motorcycles and used cars for the constituents. How will they replace those houses they sold to impress a few if not by using our constituency funds to repay and replace their loses?
We have seen their likes before who sell all to get us into their pockets and tell us later, “after all we bought you so we owe Bende nothing now.” They are hawks with no real job looking for money to wake up their company they squandered to early extinction. If there are no roads where will those motor bikes and used cars be driven on? Roads and used cars which one is better? PDP should be ashamed that after twelve years in power all they can give Abia North and Bende is used cars and motorcycles. I can assure you that Bende people are wiser.
IF THEY LIKE THEY SHOULD GIVE OUT TRAINS OR PRIVATE JETS, BENDE CAN NO LONGER BE FOOLED.
Bende needs more roads and sustainable infrastructure, not bags of rice which they already cultivate very well. I am yet to see the force big enough to stop the impending political whirlwind of APC in Abia North. This is already very obvious to PDP. I don’t have used cars and bikes to give, what I have is my community development initiatives which I give to Bende people to enable them buy their own cars, build their own houses, train their kids in school and create more jobs. My programs will outlast cars and motorbikes. In the current state of Bende, where will they see money to fuel the cars? PDP creates burden while APC is a solution provider.
WERZ: What do you have to say about PDP’s bid for power at the federal level?
BENKALU: Truth be told, in advanced political climes like in Germany where we are now, a political party like PDP should be ashamed to ask for a political office after the disgraceful damage they did to our nation in the recent past. It ought to take PDP 16 years before getting back to power. Within these 16 years, enough cleansing and re-engineering of their core values that will help nation building would have been redefined. If APC fails Nigerians then, a gap will be created for them to emerge. PDP asking to lead Nigeria after their sixteen years of locust, palmer worm and cankerworm destructive administration is a slap on the face of patriotic Nigerians. Does it mean we forget too soon and yet desire to be among our equals in the comity of Nations? PDP should hide their face in shame. No amount of embroidery of words will make us forget the embarrassment caused by the sixteen years of mal administration under PDP. APC will be assessed fairly after sixteen years. In my South Eastern zone, APC has performed far better than the long years of PDP.
WERZ: Why should Nigerians choose APC over PDP?
PDP is the gathering of liars and they all know that no truth lies in their intention for this nation, it is about their pockets and selfish insatiable thirst for wealth. Nation building is not the driver of their interest, it is all about self. We as Nigerians vehemently refuse to be dragged back to where we were delivered from; the distribution of our common wealth into the pockets of common thieves. APC on the other hand is passionate about nation building and the reclaiming of Nigeria’s common wealth from the pockets of common thieves. This is a nation building process which we already began four years ago. Buhari is hungry for positive impact and that’s why south east will vote him this time. He is sincere with his intentions.
WERZ: A couple of weeks ago, rumors allegedly originating from the other party, circulated that Dr. Orji Kalu had died. What do you have to say about that?
BENKALU: (Laughs) I can say with all surety, that for those who wished him dead, Governor Orji Kalu is coming with the strength of a new resurrection. We will both be returning back to Nigeria soon to shake up Abia North for the coming elections. He will not only win the election, we will show PDP in the zone how much the people appreciate the works we have been doing for them.
In fact, a few weeks ago, while Dr. Kalu was in Germany, another candidate for the House of Representatives in Bende visited His Excellency as a spy from the political enemies of Dr. Orji Kalu. I saw today in Germany the video of his coming in and leaving the hospital. How can a young man raised by the same Orji Kalu be used against his own town’s man? Did the desperation to outshine his master blind his sense of judgement to know there is life after politics? How can you finish meeting your former boss, called people on your phone for him to speak to them which he did, and then turn around to deny you went to see him in Germany? The network service provider has the record of the call from his hospital room. To lack credibility is to lack character, without character, the society cannot entrust their confidence in you.
Unlike the PDP candidate from Bende, I am neither ashamed or afraid to publicly state that I went to see my big brother, Dr Orji Kalu. In Abia State, everyone knows where I stand at all times and I am not about to change now. If a man is ashamed to identify with the leader of the people he wants to represent because he became sick, this same candidate will be ashamed of the entire people of Bende in the times of their needs. Everything should not be about politics. There is nothing wrong about a Bende man boldly saying “yes I went to see my brother who was sick in the hospital”. But there is everything wrong with telling lies against a man on a sick bed, sinisterly hoping that he does not recover. Dr. Orji Kalu is back to his feet and in a few days’ time in Bende, he will look those liars and their supporters in the face.
WERZ: Mr. Benjamin Kalu esq., we thank you for this interview.
BENKALU: You’re welcome.
