The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said the people of South East region have unanimously agreed to return President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima in 2027 to continue their good work.
Speaking at the Flag Off of the APC Women’s Mobilization Campaign/ South East Women Empowerment Programme by the Wife of the President and First Lady of the nation, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in Enugu on Saturday, the Deputy Speaker said for now, the mandate of Ndi Igbo is to support the man that has been supporting them.
Kalu recalled that President Tinubu during his time as governor of Lagos State from 1999 to 2007 appointed Igbo people in his government.
He said: “This man has not hidden his love for Ndi Igbo. During his time as the governor of Lagos State, no Igbo property was taken. Nobody who was a business man in Lagos was arrested. Mr. Ben Akabueze was an Igbo man that he brought into his cabinet as Governor. It has never happened before. I hope we will reciprocate his kind gestures to Ndi Igbo. We must do so this time”.
Kalu who is also the Director-General of APC Presidential Campaign Council 11 (South) recalled that after the civil war, the promise of the 3Rs of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation, and Reintegration made to the people of Igbo land was not kept by successive governments until Tinubu became President.
He said President Tinubu has proven his love through concrete actions, including signing into law the South East Development Commission Bill which had lingered in the Parliament from year to year and from Assembly to Assembly.
“I also need to remind you that after the civil war, we waited for almost 60 years for a promise that was made to the people of Igbo land that was not kept. The 3Rs: Reconciliation, Reconstruction and Reintegration. Was the promise kept or not? It wasn’t kept.
“Government after government but they ignored us. Administration after administration, they ignored the Igbo and we were waiting and asking, when will the messiah come to save the Igbo? Then came a man who loves the Igbo from his heart.
“South East Development Commission Bill has been in the Parliament from year to year, Assembly to Assembly, they refused to sign it into law. But when President Tinubu came, South East Development Commission became a commission under the law. Tinubu is a warrior, a great President”, he said.
Kalu further said that the President is building roads, constructing bridges, giving scholarships and loans, while the First Lady is doing empowerment to help the women of the South East.
He urged the people to come out en masse on January 16, 2027 and vote for President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, stressing that South East is complete and does not have any other candidate.
“To this end, I am appealing to Ndi Igbo, come January 16, 2027, we don’t have any other candidate. The Igbo are complete. The governors are complete. Abia is here. Enugu is here. Imo is here. Anambra is here. South East is complete. Ndi Igbo have unanimously agreed that we will return President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima in 2027 to continue their good work,” Kalu said.
Noting that Ndi Igbo have waited for too long, almost 60 years, and will not accept a four-year arrangement, the Deputy Speaker insisted that when it is the turn of the Igbo, it will be a full eight years for the region.
“Others have had it for 8 years and we have waited for too long, almost 60 years. Is it fair for us to do 4 years? Those who want Ndi Igbo to do only 4 years, it will not work. Just like others who did 8 years, when it is our turn, we will also do 8 years because what is good for the goose is also good for the gander.
“But for now, our mandate is to support the man that has been supporting us. This man has not hidden his love for Ndi Igbo” he said.
