By Ikechukwu Mbah (A concerned Bende Man)
For many years, the Igbos, especially those from the Southeast, have been crying of marginalisation, especially since the All Progressives Congress (APC) took over power in 2015. To be fair to the APC, they actually did not set out to marginalise Ndigbo but rather worked with those who supported when the Southeast threw its eggs into one basket to rescue former President Goodluck Jonathan.
From the inception of the administration of former president Mohammadu Buhari, it was crystal clear to the Southeast that they are no longer seen and valued in the Nigerian political corridor of power. The Southeast protested, the Southeast lamented, and the Southeast, in the long run, saw its errors and began moves to accept APC, but to the then Buhari administration, it was a little bit too late.
No vital position came to the South East except the normal ministerial slots that are actually due for everyone. As all these were ongoing, South East politicians in the APC were actually busy, seeking how to reroute the region back into the political mainstream of Nigeria.
As the preparation for the 2023 general elections was getting closer, top APC politicians, including Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu made some vital alignments, and that alignment produced President Bola Tinubu and, subsequently, a new leadership at the National Assembly.
With the roles played by the South East in the emergence of the new government when power sharing was ongoing, the South East was not overlooked; hence, one of the best from the zone was elected as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, and since then, that position has been one of the most vibrant and the most fruitful for both the Igbos and all Nigerians.
If anyone has read the funny article written by EMENIKE IROEGBU, publicity secretary of the Labour Party in Abia State, titled “THE BENDE WAHALA & THE DEBATE MATTER”, you’ll discover that he has a slavish mentality about politics and the dichotomy/harmony that must exist for a wholesome society to emerge.
According to EMENIKE IROEGBU, “Governor Alex Otti needs a House of Representatives that will work in harmony with his administration. For the governor to consolidate on the transformational work he has started and continue delivering quality governance to the people of Abia in a second term, Ofuji (Chima Anyaso) is needed in the House of Representatives.”
Let us pause a little and ask EMENIKE IROEGBU some questions: so, in your little mind, an immature, inexperienced, legislative and politically unexposed Chima Anyaso from the LP that is below the status of an opposition to the APC is what Gov. Alex Otti needs to function well in Abia State, as opposed to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who is already playing his leadership role for Nigerians, Ndigbo, the South East and Abians?
EMENIKE IROEGBU, if (although just wishfully) Chima Anyaso gets to the National Assembly, what is he going to be? Will he replace Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, as the Deputy Speaker, or is he going there to be a floor member for four years until Otti leaves office?
EMENIKE IROEGBU, Otti has Munachim Alozie, Alex Ikwechegh, Amaobi Ogah, Ginger Onwusibe, Obi Aguocha and co. as LP House of Representatives members; what federal presence have they and others who are “working in harmony with his administration” put together and brought to their federal constituencies as a result of the much-talked-about political harmony with Governor Otti?
EMENIKE IROEGBU, when has the major criterion for qualifying for a federal constituency’s political position shifted from quality and vibrant representation to loyalty and servitude to the executive governor of a state?
Is that how low LP now place national assembly members? No wonder some of the LP National Assembly members are busy following the governor about while their colleagues from elsewhere are gathering constituency projects back home.
That we find ourselves geographically in this tropical rainforest ecological zone does not give LP the effrontery to be spreading these cheeky, monkish, deceptive bananas across Abia state, thinking they are dealing with monkeys. Abians are sophisticated human beings, with some of the best brains ever created by God.
The political culture in Abia has grown and developed over the years, and people actually know the role of a governor and that of the House of Representatives member. Abians are aware they do not need to be in the same party to serve the people in their different capacities.
The whole political structure and architecture of Abia State cannot be intertwined with the views, wishes, desires, needs and insatiable political wants of the governor. Abia cannot collapse into the ideology of one man who thinks he knows it all.
For you to prove that Bende Federal Constituency needs your LP, show us what LP members in Obingwa-Osisioma-Ugwunagbo, Isiala-Ngwa North/Isiala-Ngwa South, Isuikwuato/Umunneochi, and Ikwuano/Umuahia Federal Constituencies have brought home from Abuja as a result of their good working relationship with Governor Alex Otti. Please, do not show me okada and tricycles, we have gone past those!
How deceptive can a politician be? How can one go to a Bende Federal Constituency that is currently flourishing, attracting federal projects here and there, with a multiplicity of uncountable constituency projects, and ask them to “sell their horse to buy a donkey”?
How can people advise those ahead of them to use their crystal clear eyes to make a devastating downgrade of choice by trading a legislator per excellence in Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, with high value and prestige, who executes his legislative duties with flair and verve that echoes across the South East and Nigeria for naught, except closeness to a governor? What a world!
To be candid, what is LP actually talking about in Bende? They want Ndigbo to sacrifice the brain behind the South East Development Commission (SEDC) Act for naught? God forbid!
LP wants Bende people to sacrifice the brain behind the Federal College of Education Bende-Establishment Act for naught? That is an insult of the highest order.
As if the above insult isn’t enough, they’re actually also telling Bende people to sacrifice the brain behind the Federal University of Medical and Health Sciences, Bende Establishment Act, for a mere political alignment with the government house in Umuahia?
We are sure that a majority of LP members are dancing around with joy about the bill that seeks to move policing from the Exclusive Legislative List to the Concurrent Legislative List of the Constitution, a change that would empower state governments to establish, fund, and operate their own police forces alongside the Nigeria Police Force but are ignorantly supporting the lies to deceitfully demarket the brain behind on the altar of political servitude.
And then, are they equally seeking how to brainwash Nigerians into throwing the brain behind the Kampala Convention (Domestication and Enforcement) Act under the bus simply because it does not align with the political taste of their master? What a lofty desire!
How do you want to successfully fund, bankroll and disseminate the deceit against the man who has a scale of over 114 infrastructure development projects delivered across Bende Federal Constituency in his name?
Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has his footprint covering every one of the 13 political wards by ensuring equitable distribution that addresses both grassroots village needs and strategic regional economic corridors.
His three flagship projects underscore a full commitment to advancing power, health, and emergency security across the constituency.
How do fake news and deceit erase the fact that his energy modernisation, led by the deployment of a massive 1000KVA solar mini-grid in Onuiyang, Bende Ward, now provides clean, uninterrupted power to the community?
Is someone pretending not to be aware that his healthcare infrastructure is anchored by the ongoing construction of a 50-bed hospital at Ohumola Ezi Igbere within Igbere Ward B?
Who in Bende Federal Constituency is not aware that Benjamin Kalu secured emergency medical access through an ultra-modern hospital in Amaekpu Item, Item Ward A, which is fully equipped with a standalone ambulance?
As a concerned Nigerian, and an Abia, I am aware that together, these initiatives reflect a deliberate strategy to balance immediate community needs with long-term regional development, reinforcing Bende’s position as a hub of progress and resilience.
It is important to educate our people that the ‘Core Areas of Focus’ are Education and Academic Support, which represents his heaviest investment footprint, as it spans building primary and secondary classroom blocks, installing security fencing, constructing modern ICT/E-learning centres, and providing direct educational materials such as textbooks, plastic lockers, and whiteboards.
Another core area is Roads and Connectivity: here, he makes interventions ranging from granular community ring roads and school links to massive layout asphalting projects, such as the 12 km Bende-Utumbauzo bypass and the 6.3 km Nkpa road featuring two bridges.
Another important core area of focus is Power and Clean Utilities, where modernisation is driven by installing massive clean energy assets like the 1000KVA solar mini-grid, deploying over 585 solar streetlights, rehabilitating the Bende water scheme, and rolling out water-reticulated solar boreholes.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu equally has healthcare and industrialisation as one of his core areas of focus, where he directs capital to expanding health capacity through assets like a 50-bed hospital and an ultra-modern hospital with a dedicated ambulance. The above also targets the rural economy via palm oil, rice, and cassava processing mills.
SUMMARY OF RT. HON. BENJAMIN KALU’S PROJECT DISTRIBUTION ACROSS WARDS
Fellow Nigerians, Ndigbo and Abia people, let us help and give you a summary of the projects that Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has across the 13 wards of the Bende Federal Constituency.
Bende Ward has 18 projects and serves as the largest concentration of heavy utilities, with key assets which include a 1000KVA solar mini-grid, a water scheme rehabilitation, an immigration office, a modern rice processing mill, and a 12km bypass.
Have they bothered to look at Umuimenyi / Nkpa Ward with 17 projects? There, the Deputy Speaker focuses heavily on agro-industrialisation and rural connectivity, featuring dedicated rice and cassava processing plants alongside a 6.3 km road built with two bridges.
In Uzuakoli Ward with 13 projects, his focus is on urban school retrofitting and digital infrastructure, with projects which include dedicated ICT centres at the local Girls Secondary School and Practicing School, paired with extensive road asphalting.
At the Ozuitem Ward, where he has 10 projects, the Deputy Speaker focused on school expansions, an ultra-modern farm, and clean water utilities, balanced by the 5.5 km Agbua-Elugwuba-Uzuakoli road project.
He did not abandon the Item Ward A with 9 projects, as he anchors the Item clan with a comprehensive hospital deployment featuring a dedicated ambulance, backed by multiple primary school expansions and a 300KVA transformer.
The Item Ward B has 7 projects with interventions written all over them. Here, the interventions focus on comprehensive school support, road asphalting, educational material distributions, and an ongoing e-learning facility.
Item Ward C has 5 projects which include the 2.5km Amaokwe-Akanu road, school renovations, and targeted solar street lighting deployments.
Who can tell the people of Itumbuzor Ward, with 7 projects with an interventionist approach focused on strategic link roads, classroom blocks, a health centre, and a centralised skill acquisition centre, that the Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu should be sacrificed for a greenhorn who is loyal to the Abia State government house?
Then, in Igbere Ward A, which has 7 projects, the focus is heavily on community lighting and hall renovations, including 85 solar streetlights across multiple communities and the Uche Ebiri Hall renovation.
Igbere Ward B also has 7 projects, which feature significant capital projects including a 50-bed hospital, an ultra-modern town hall, a palm oil processing plant, and a modern rice processing plant.
Doubters should go to Alayi Ward with 6 projects that cover commercial school expansions with textbook provisions, a science school ICT centre, and localised boreholes.
In Ugwueke Ezeukwu Ward, he has 6 projects. Here, the focus is on transit connectivity via link roads, classroom blocks, and a modern civic hall.
Umuhu Ezechi Ward 2 intervention projects that focus cleanly on the 2km Umuokwe road and the Amazu Primary School classroom blocks.
WARD LEVEL PROJECT BREAKDOWN
Please, relax; do not start looking for areas to throw stones. We are actually going to break down the ward-level project distribution to help everyone understand the reason why Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s re-election is sacrosanct to not just the Bende Federal Constituency but to the entire South East.
Itumbuzor Ward
Here is a breakdown of the seven projects in Itumbuzor Ward: Construction Of 5 Kilometres Ubibia-Itumbuzor Road; Construction Of The Biggest Health Centre In Ntalakwu, Itumbuzor; Construction Of 6 Kilometres Etitiulo-Okporoachara-Ndiwo, Itumbuzor Road; Construction Of 3 Classroom Blocks With 1 Office In Nkporo, Ubibia, Itumbuzor; Construction Of Skill Acquisition Centre; Construction And Furnishing Of A Three Classroom Block With One Office In Ndiwo Town School; and the Construction And Furnishing Of 3 Classroom Blocks With 1 Office In Okopedi Community Primary School.
Bende Ward
Here is the breakdown of the 18 projects in Bende Ward: Construction Of 1000kva Solar Mini Grid In Onuiyang, Bende; Construction Of Six Classroom Block At Community School/Fencing Of The School; Construction Of Classroom Blocks At Central School, Bende, Including Assembly Hall And Fencing Of The School; Construction Of Classroom Blocks At Bende Secondary Grammar School/ICT Centre; Construction Of 3 Classroom Blocks At Etitiulo Primary School, Bende/Fencing Of The School; Construction Of 2km Amaogwu Ndiokorieukwu Road; Construction Of 2km Amaogwu Etiti Ring Road; Construction Of 2km Amaogwu Agbomiri Umuorie Road; Ongoing Construction Of 12km Bende Utumbauzo Bypass; Construction Of 1km Okputong Ndiekugo Road; Construction Of Modern Rice Processing Mill; Installation Of Over 400 Solar-Powered Streetlights Across Bende Ward; Construction Of 2km Amaogwu Agbomiri Bende Secondary Grammar School Road; Rehabilitation Of Bende Water Scheme; Construction Of ICT Centre At Onuinyang, Bende; Construction Of Immigration Office At Onuinyang, Bende; Restoration Of Electricity Back To Bende; and the Construction Of Solar Mini Grid In Bende Headquarters, Bende.
Ozuitem Ward
A breakdown of the ten projects in Ozuitem Ward, which include the construction of a new block of two classrooms at Etitiozu Primary School Ozuitem; the construction of a two-classroom block at Ozuitem Secondary School; the construction of a three-classroom block with two offices at Ekpukwa Central School Ozuitem; the construction of a three-block classroom with an office at Enemba Primary School Ozuitem with perimeter fencing of the school; the construction of a solar borehole at Ihemba Ozuitem; the construction of a borehole with water reticulation at Obuofia Isiegbu Ozuitem; the construction and asphalting of 5.5 kilometres at Agbua Elugwuba Uzuakoli Road Ozuitem; the construction and asphalting of a 2-kilometre road with solar light at Elu La Agbo Isiegbu Ozuitem; the ongoing Altra Modern Farm situated at Obuofia Isiegbu Ozuitem; and the ongoing construction of a two-classroom block with 1 office together with fencing of the school and security house at Enemba Primary School Ozuitem.
Uzuakoli Ward
A breakdown of the 13 projects in Uzuakoli Ward includes the following: Renovation/retrofitting of one block of six classrooms at Uzuakoli Boys Secondary School, Uzuakoli; asphalting of two hundred metres of Agbozu/Obiohia Road with solar street lights; solar street lights on Obinudo/Aboh Umueze Road; construction of a new one block of four classrooms with chairs and desks at Amamba/Agbozu Lg Primary School; construction of a new one block of four classrooms with chairs and desks at Ngwu/Amankwo Lg Primary School; renovation/retrofitting of one block of six classrooms at Amamba/Agbozu Lg Primary School; construction of one new block of six classrooms with an office and toilets at Uzuakoli Girls Secondary School; construction of one new ICT centre at Uzuakoli Girls Secondary School; construction of one new ICT centre at Practicing School, Uzuakoli; one solar-powered borehole at Amamba, Uzuakoli;
construction and asphalting of 1.7 kilometres of Ihemba/Uzuzu Quarters Road with solar street lights; construction and asphalting of one kilometre of Okwu Amuhie Road with solar street lights; and the solar street lights on Amankwo/Ngwu Lg Primary School Road.
Umuimenyi/Nkpa Ward
A breakdown of the 17 projects in Umuimenyi/Nkpa Ward, which include the construction of 6.3 kilometres of road with 2 bridges in Nkpa; construction of 2.3 kilometres in Akoli-Amorji Imenyi Road; construction of 3 classroom blocks with 1 office in Umuimenyi Tech; construction of a solar-powered borehole with a water treatment plant in Ovum Ugwunkpa;
construction of a cassava processing plant in Amaohoro Nkpa; construction and furnishing of a modern library in Umuimenyi Technical School; renovation of 3 classroom blocks with 1 office in Central School Lohum Imenyi; construction of 3 classroom blocks with 1 office in Community Primary School Lodu Imenyi; construction of an ultra-modern classroom in Amorji Lodu Imenyi; construction of 1 kilometre of Amankwuebi Amaegbu Road Lohum Imenyi; construction of 300 metres of Justice Ohabuike Chijike Road Lohum Imenyi; construction of 700 metres of Elumission Road Lohum Imenyi; construction of 2 kilometres of Amorji Lodu Road; construction of a rice processing plant in Akoli Imenyi; construction of Ngodo Akoli Ogubi Road Akoli Imenyi; perimeter fencing of Community Primary School Lodu Imenyi; and the perimeter fencing of Unity Secondary School. Amaediaba Nkpa.
Umuhu Ezechi Ward
A breakdown of the two projects at Umuhu Ezechi, which are the construction of 2 kilometres of Umuokwe Road in Umuhu Ezechi and the construction of 3 classroom blocks with 1 office in Amazu Primary School in Umuhu Ezechi.
Igbere Ward A
A breakdown of the seven projects in Igbere Ward-A, which includes the construction of a solar borehole water system at Elu-Ohafia, Ibina, Ukwu, Igbere; the renovation and furnishings of Uche Ebiri Hall at Onuibina, Igbere; the construction of an eight-classroom block at Onuibina Primary School; the installation of fifty solar street lights at Ibina, Ukwu, Igbere; the installation of fifteen solar street lights at Amaofufe, Igbere; the installation of ten solar street lights at Ozuitem, Okafia Road; and the installation of ten solar street lights at Amankalu, Igbere.
Igbere Ward B
Just like Igbere Ward-A, Igbere Ward-B equally has seven projects, and they include the ongoing construction of a 50-bed hospital in Ohumola Ezi Igbere; construction of a palm oil processing plant in Amorji Igbere; ongoing construction of an ultra-modern town hall in Amaukwu Igbere; construction of 3 classroom blocks with 1 office in Amato Primary School Igbere; construction of 3 classroom blocks with 1 office in Ohumola Primary School Ezi Igbere; construction of a modern rice processing plant in Ohumola Ezi Igbere; and perimeter fencing of Amaukwu Igbere Primary School Igbere.
Alayi Ward
Breakdown of the six projects in Alayi Ward, which are the construction of three classrooms with offices at Alayi Secondary Commercial School; furnishings of the same three-classroom block with chairs, lockers and school textbooks; construction of an ICT centre in Alayi Science School; construction of a 2 km road in Amabo, Amapu-Agboakoli, Ameke Road; renovation of two classroom blocks with offices in Amankalu Primary School; and the solar-powered borehole in Okpufu, Amankalu, Alayi.
Ugwueke Ezeukwu Ward
A breakdown of the six projects at Ugwueke Ezeukwu Ward which include the ongoing construction of the Royal Cross-Item Link Road Ugwueke; construction of 3 kilometres of the Ugwueke-Akeze Link Road Ugwueke; construction of 3 classroom blocks with 1 office in Amanta Primary School, Ezeukwu; reconstruction of 3 classroom blocks with 1 office in Amaba Primary School, Ugwueke; construction of a modern civic hall in Amaba, Ugwueke; and the construction of 3 classroom blocks with 1 office in Central School, Ezeukwu.
Item Ward A
Breakdown of the nine projects in Item Ward A: Construction Of 2 Kilometres Amaokwe Item Road; Provision Of 300kva Transformer In Amaokwe Item; Construction Of 3 Classroom Blocks With 1 Office In Item High School; Construction Of Solar-Powered Borehole With Water Reticulation In Amaokwe Item; Construction Of 6 Classroom Blocks With 1 Office In Abanta Primary School, Amaokwe Item; Construction Of 3 Classroom Blocks With 1 Office In Umunnato Primary School Item 2: Construction Of 6 Classroom Blocks With 1 Office In Apuanu Primary School Item; Construction Of Ultra-Modern Hospital With Ambulance In Amaekpu Item; Reconstruction Of 5 Classroom Blocks With 1 Office In Amaekpu Primary School Item;
Item Ward B
Breakdown of all the seven projects in Item Ward B, which are: Reconstruction Of A 3-Classroom Block In Amabo Primary School Okoko Item; Construction Of A 3-Classroom Block In Comprehensive Secondary School Okoko Item; Construction And Asphalting Of A 2 Km Road With Solar Lights Of The 6.5 Km Okoko Item To Ugwueke Road; Installation Of Over 100 Solar Street Lights In Okoko And Okagwe Communities; Construction Of A Solar Borehole At Umukoma Okoko Item (Not Functional); Empowerment Of 2 Schools (Item Central Okoko And Amabo Primary Schools) With Educational Support Materials (38 Plastic Lockers, 38 Chairs, Hundreds Of Textbooks, Exercise Books, And 3 Whiteboards Each To The Respective Schools); and the Construction And Furnishing Of Ultra-Modern E-Learning Facility At Okoko Comprehensive Secondary School Item. (Ongoing)
Item Ward C
Breakdown of the five projects in Item Ward C: Construction Of Amaokwe Akanu Road (2.5 km); Construction Of A Classroom Block At Okai Item Primary School; Renovation Of A 3-Classroom Block At Akanu Item Primary School; Installation Of Solar-Powered Street Light At Okai Item; and Installation Of Solar-Powered Street Lights At Elugwu Akanu Item.
