The former Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Martins Okechukwu Azubuike has described the trending comments of the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, to the effect that the APC will produce the next Governor of Abia State as undisputable political reality.
“The Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu is an Ambassador of the APC to Abia State and it’s not out of place for him to project the APC as the party to beat”, Rt Hon Azubuike said, even as he chastised those faulting the Deputy Speaker and described them as ” burying their heads in the sand”
He further maintained that Rt. Hon. Kalu belongs to a party which holds sway at the centre, while Gov. Alex Otti is of the LP which controls Abia State, therefore expressing his desire to bring Abia into the mainstream of National politics is consistent with his leadership style of ” Leave no one behind “. ” Indeed, the goals of any opposition party is to take over the seat of power during the next election, therefore the Deputy Speaker’s declaration is consistent with the politics of an opposition party desiring to take over the seat of power”, Azubuike declared.
The former Speaker further argued that Gov Otti was formerly of the APC before he defected to LP and therefore the subtle invitation for him to return to the APC, his former party is not out of place
“As a major stakeholder of the APC in Abia state and nationally, Kalu is a politician who walks his talks, from delivering the South-East Development Commission ( SEDC ) to the region, a Federal Housing Estate to Abia State, in addition to numerous Federal interventions and projects attracted to his constituency and Abia State, not forgetting the appointment of Abia sons and daughters from the APC – led Federal Government, are all pointers to the fact that, the APC is a growing force to reckon with in the 2027 election”.
Rt. Hon. Azubuike reminded those critical of the Deputy Speaker’s position that Gov Otti was propelled to victory by a rainbow coalition comprising elements from the APC and other political parties. ” So it’s not unexpected that with it’s growing strength in Abia state, the APC would be a formidable force come 2027. Therefore, those critical of the Deputy Speaker’s position appears to miss this point”, he proffered.
“Rt Hon. Kalu has been committed to his core values, and maintains a cordial relationship with Gov. Otti whom he calls a close friend. Thus, his views that Abia State should align with the APC-led Federal Government is consistent with his transformational proactive politics and leadership. Like a good friend who will always say the truth to a friend, Rt. Hon. Kalu has simply told Gov. Alex Otti to return to APC as APC is poised to take over the state, come 2027. He stressed that an ” Obedient Wave” would not happen a second time in Abia and everyone on the streets of Abia knows that for sure.
“Recall that the Deputy Speaker, as a goal – getter has recoded tremendous human capital and infrastructural developments in his constituency. Recently, he received a number of decampees into the APC, a testament of the popularity and rising profile of the party across the state and Ben Kalu is literarily walking from door to door, reconciling people, building bridges and harvesting new members for APC. He deserves the right to express his resolve for his party, APC to take over Abia Government House in 2027. What else should an opposition party do if not to keep the ruling party on its toes”, the former Speaker asked rhetorically.
