By Gift Chapi- Odekina
Conference of Civil Society Of Nigeria,(CCSN), have condemned what it termed sponsored media camping against one of the contestant for the position of Speaker in the 10th Assembly , Rep. Benjamin Kalu.
This was contained in a statement signed by the National Coordinator, of the group, Comrade Archie Isong, in Abuja.
According to him, “it is exciting to note that the genuine and patriotic interest of the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives and Member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Rep. Benjamin Kalu, to run for the Speakership of the 10th House of Representatives, has unbalanced a certain segment and rather than to focus on the core issues of competence, equity, balance, loyalty and leadership, they have descended into the abyss of mudslinging and bolekaje politics. Unfortunate.
“If he were to have played Judas as alleged by his traducers, how is it that he is standing while others capitulated at the polls? We a knowledge that talk is cheap and parrots like to chatter to be noticed. If not, how can one explain without any empirical evidence the allegation that Hon Kalu sold to the party out.
He further said that Rep Kalu’s political odyssey as the last man standing in Abia APC out of 8 Federal Constituencies is a weighty testament of his acceptability, dedication, commitment and unalloyed loyalty to the APC.
“The rase for the Speakership of the 10th House of Reps is serious business and not some monkey business as exhibited by a motely of rag-tag, unknown and unregistered Coalition of so-called Northern Patriots Front, South West Professionals and Coalition of Arewa Group.
“We are constrained to respond to the coalition in allegiance to posterity, if it were to the contrary, they are underserving of any rejoinder as their position is untenable and lack integrity as well as objectivity.
“The question that begs is to who and for what? These two questions if not satisfactorily answered is enough grounds for liable because he who asserts must prove.
“It is instructive that context be given to the Hon. Kalu matrix in the build up to the February polls. Owing to the obvious inevitability of his return to office, his campaign offices and materials where targeted so much so that over 100 bullets were counted when some it were attacked.
“It is also on record that he was undeterred and campaigned vigorously for the APC and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as presidential candidate in Abia State. They say pictures do not lie and this is a fact as Hon. Kalu could be seen in several pictures and videos as one of the leaders that received the APC Presidential Candidate to Abia State, while some of the leaders who want to lead the 10th National Assembly publicly supported other political parties.
“A man who took 17 years to prepare himself before coming to House of rep and has added another 4 years making it 21 years has the capacity to do what that office demands as we have seen him in the role of the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives. Never has there been a time that the image of the House was this effective. Hon. Kalu is not running on the basis of being Igbo, rather he is running because he is a prepared, ready to go nationalist who believes in the agenda of Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu’s administration”, he added.
The group there for demanded a retraction of the libelous statement and urge Nigerians of good standing to ignore rumour peddlers and know that a virile, strong and representative House leadership is in supporting him as the next Speaker of the House of Reps.
