‘Why I Asked Otti to Join APC’ – Kalu Sets the Record Straight

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu has clarified that his call to Abia State Governor Alex Otti to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was driven purely by the interest of Abia State and not personal ambition.

Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, made this known while speaking to journalists in his hometown Bende in Abia State, on the proposed creation of an additional South-East state, the Electoral Act amendment, the controversial tax law and the 2027 election.

According to him, Otti’s alignment with the APC would have strengthened collaboration with the Federal Government and accelerated development in the state.

“I was asking him to join the APC because he was one of us. I believed it would give Abia State more development through collaboration with the centre. There was nothing selfish about it. If I wanted to be selfish, I would have blocked him,” Kalu explained.

He added that the APC’s principle allows anyone who joins the party to be fully supported, noting that if Otti had joined, party members would have queued behind him.

Speaking further, he said that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s bold economic decisions laid the foundation for the performances being recorded by governors and lawmakers across the country, insisting that the President deserves credit for stabilising the nation.

On his political ambition, Kalu said it was not yet time to declare what office he would be contesting, stressing that his current focus remains on delivering quality representation to his people.

“It’s not yet time to declare what I’ll be vying for. When it’s time, I’ll meet my people and let them know. For now, I’m doing the work of representing my people in Bende,” he said.

On the ongoing agitation for the creation of an additional state in the South-East, Kalu said the proposal was anchored on equity and national cohesion. He revealed that a motion supporting an extra South-East State was moved by a northern lawmaker at a legislative conference and was seconded by a South-West member.

“I pray that all the governors will agree. If they come together, then another state will be added to the South-East,” he said.

Responding to former Vice President Atiku Abubakar’s allegation that the National Assembly was deliberately delaying the amendment of the Electoral Act, Kalu dismissed the claim, stating that the House of Representatives had completed its work.

“It’s not true that Parliament is delaying it. As Chairman of the Electoral Act Amendment, the House has finished its job. We are waiting for the Senate so we can conclude concurrence after resumption,” he stated.

Highlighting his achievements in office, Kalu said his six years of representation had brought unprecedented development to Bende, including electricity supply after 23 years.

“There’s no representative that has done 10 per cent of what I’ve done. Bende now has power, and we are extending it to Alai, Itumbauzo and Igbere. We connected the area to the national grid,” he said, while admitting that more still needs to be done.

Speaking on the controversial tax law, Kalu defended the Tinubu administration, describing the President as a courageous leader who took tough decisions to save the country from economic collapse.

“If you see any governor or lawmaker performing today, give the kudos to the President. President Tinubu took courageous steps. It was rough at the beginning, but it has stabilised now,” he said.

He clarified that the tax law in question is the Authentication Act and denied claims of adulteration, revealing that a committee had been set up to investigate the allegations further.

“There’s nothing like adulteration of the tax law. A committee has been set up, and when we resume, the report will be presented,” Kalu concluded.

Meanwhile, the Abia State Online Media Practitioners presented a plaque to the Deputy Speaker as the association’s Grand Patron, recognising his encouragement and dedication to the growth of the media in the State.