Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu Lauds Tinubu, Says President Constructed Omenuko Bridge, Building Ikot Ekpene, PH Express Roads
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has lauded President Bola Tinubu for driving major federal projects in Abia State, asserting that the President is directly responsible for several key road infrastructure developments.
Speaking at the All Progressives Congress (APC) state congress held on Tuesday in Umuahia, Kalu listed a number of ongoing federal interventions he said are being delivered under Tinubu’s leadership.
He told party faithful: “Omenuko Bridge, he is the one building it. It is only the man who is doing for you that you will do for. The man who is building roads for you: Ikot Ekpene Road, he is the one building it; Port Harcourt Express Road, he is the one building it. Most of these federal interventions, he is the one doing it.”
Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, also reiterated the readiness of the Abia State chapter of the APC to deliver overwhelming support for President Tinubu in the 2027 general elections.
He described the congress as a turning point for the party in the state, noting that unity had been restored through harmonisation and consensus.
“This is a new leaf in political party activities and administration. That is what we have embraced now in Abia State, where the party has been returned to the owners. As you have chosen your leaders here today, give them your loyalty and support,” he said.
He commended President Tinubu for encouraging consensus-building within the party.
“We thank the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is a true democrat. He knows the true value of harmonisation, consensus and agreement. That was why he, as well as the Caucus and NEC, insisted that we should go back and use harmonisation to rebuild our party. That’s exactly what we’ve done. Now the party is healthier, stronger and ready to win elections for Mr President.”
Kalu assured that Abia APC members were fully aligned with the President.
“Abia State is ready to give the President the vote he is looking for. We stand on his mandate. We are not negotiating 25 per cent; we are going to give him massive votes. We don’t have an alternative. Come 2027, we will prove a point.
“President Bola Tinubu has sons and daughters in Abia State. In the southern political corridor, we don’t have any other candidate except President Bola Tinubu. The South-East will not waste our votes. Come 2027, we are voting for President Tinubu,” he added.
The congress produced former Abia State House of Assembly Minority Leader, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu, as the new State Chairman of the APC. He emerged through an affirmation process alongside other members of the party’s state executive committee.
In his acceptance speech after inauguration, Chukwu expressed gratitude to party stakeholders and members across the state for finding him worthy of service.
“I stand before you today with a heart full of gratitude, a deep sense of responsibility and a pledge to serve you all with humility. This victory is not mine alone; it belongs to all of us,” he said.
He paid tribute to President Tinubu and the national leadership of the party for restoring unity in Abia APC and pledged to sustain the peace achieved.
“There will be no more faction. There will be no more division. It is now time for reconciliation, consolidation and expansion of our party’s strength across every ward and local government,” Chukwu declared.
He promised to run an open and inclusive administration and announced plans to grow the party’s membership to at least 500,000 registered members in the state.
“Our target is to win all our elections in 2027. With unity, discipline and commitment, there is no limit to what we can achieve,” he said.
