Press Release from the Office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives
August 20, 2024
Kalu’s Call on Gov Alex Otti to Rejoin APC: Deputy Speaker Did Not Grant Spin 95.3 FM , Umuahia Any Interview
Our attention has been drawn to a video recording making the rounds on the social media wherein the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu who also represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State is said to have called on the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti to rejoin the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Branded Spin FM 95.3, Umuahia, Abia State, the said video has no doubt, generated a flurry of reactions and a cacophony of feelings as we have been inundated with calls about it recently.
We are shocked by the release of such video into the media because at no time did the Deputy Speaker grant Spin FM 95.3 any interview of such.
We have contacted the station and they have equally admitted that the Deputy Speaker did not grant such an interview to them.
One is compelled to believe that such piece of video may have been produced with some ulterior motives to tarnish the image of the Deputy Speaker and cause a dent in his relationship with Governor Alex Otti.
In line with the relevant laws of Nigeria, we advice the unsuspecting members of the public to desist from circulating such video as doing so may have its legal consequences.
Meantime, our lawyers have been briefed to activate necessary legal actions with the aim of unraveling the circumstances surrounding the action of Spin FM and other digital platforms sharing it.
While we are not saying that a national leader in the position of the Deputy Speaker cannot woo people into his political party, let it be copiously and emphatically restated and truthfully so, that we did not at any time grant such an interview to Spin FM 95.3 Umuahia, Abia State, a radio station belonging to party stalwart of an opposition party in Abia .
We are persuaded to believe that this is the handiwork of political detractors and enemies to create disaffections where none exists, hurt the integrity of the Deputy Speaker and smear his image before the right thinking members of the public. Spin FM 95.3 Umuahia will be made to account for this in line with the extant laws, ethos of responsible and ethical journalism.
Signed:
Levinus Nwabughiogu, Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria
