An All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain and Federal Commissioner representing Abia State at the Public Complaints Commission (PCC), Hon. Dr. Madukwe E.E. Ukaegbu, has declared that the people of Igbere in Bende Federal Constituency will overwhelmingly support the re-election of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu.
Ukaegbu said the people of Igbere were satisfied with Kalu’s performance and representation during his first and second terms in the House of Representatives, describing the community as appreciative of the Deputy Speaker’s contributions to the constituency.
Speaking during an interview, the APC chieftain said Kalu’s emergence as Deputy Speaker had placed Bende Federal Constituency in a privileged position, which, according to him, should be protected by the people.
“Bende Federal Constituency is lucky to have someone like Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu representing them and as a Deputy Speaker. It is only once in a lifetime that a constituency gets a Deputy Speaker, and Bende is lucky to have it,” Ukaegbu said.
He argued that understanding the dynamics of Nigerian politics was crucial in appreciating the significance of Kalu’s current position, stressing that it would take an intelligent understanding of the political landscape to recognise the advantage Bende enjoys through the Deputy Speaker.
According to him, only someone who does not understand the intricacies of Nigerian politics would advocate replacing a lawmaker occupying such a strategic position.
Ukaegbu, however, acknowledged the constitutional right of every eligible aspirant to contest elections, noting that the ultimate decision rests with the electorate.
He nevertheless expressed confidence that the people of Igbere would massively vote for Kalu in the forthcoming election because of what he described as his impressive performance in representing the constituency.
The APC chieftain also described Kalu as an ambassador of Nigeria on the global stage, saying his achievements had made the people of Bende proud whenever his name was mentioned.
“Whenever Benjamin Kalu’s name is mentioned, it is a thing of joy to note that he is from Bende,” he said.
Ukaegbu further maintained that although every individual had the right to contest an election, Bende Federal Constituency could not afford to lose the position of Deputy Speaker or replace what he described as “a big player in Nigerian politics.”
On the purported agreement concerning the political contest in Bende, Ukaegbu said elections remained contests in which the people ultimately determine who represents them.
“Politics is about contest. It is the people who will determine who they want and who they will vote for, but I and my family will vote for Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu” he stated.
