Labour Party leader Chief Iheanyi Chinasa has issued a strong rebuke to Deputy Speaker Ben Kalu over his recent claims that APC will take control of Abia State in 2027. Chinasa calls Kalu’s boasts desperate and urges him to prioritize legislative progress for the people of Abia.
Chief Iheanyi Frank Chinasa, the leader of the Labour Party in Bende and a prominent figure in Abia State politics, has issued a stern and detailed rebuttal to recent comments made by the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Ben Kalu. Kalu had claimed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) would seize control of Abia State from the Labour Party in the 2027 gubernatorial elections, boasting that his position as the “number six citizen of Nigeria” would ensure this outcome.
In a broadcast widely circulated across various media platforms, Chief Chinasa described Kalu’s statements as “laughable, desperate, and completely out of touch with reality.” He accused Kalu of engaging in baseless political grandstanding at a time when the focus should be on governance and delivering tangible benefits to the people of Abia State.
Chief Chinasa, who was the Labour Party candidate for Bende Federal Constituency in the 2023 elections, reminded the public that it was through judicial intervention that Kalu was able to retain his seat in the Green Chamber. He asserted that Labour Party’s victory in Bende was comprehensive and widely recognized, both locally and internationally.
Taking a direct swipe at Kalu’s claim that “the next governor of Abia State will be an APC governor,” Chinasa labeled the boast as a “desperate postulation of a drowning politician seeking cheap publicity.” He argued that Kalu’s recent behavior and public statements were far removed from the legislative representation that the people of Bende Federal Constituency deserve. According to Chinasa, Kalu’s actions reflect an arrogant and misguided belief in his own importance, exemplified by his repeated references to his status as the “number six citizen.”
Chinasa went further to criticize Kalu’s “emilokan” mentality—a reference to the infamous entitlement mentality that has plagued Nigerian politics. He expressed concern that Kalu’s focus on his political ambitions could distract from the critical work needed to improve the lives of the people of Abia, particularly in light of the numerous challenges facing the state and the nation.
He also pointed out the failures of the APC-led federal government in areas such as the economy, security, and anti-corruption efforts, questioning how an APC administration in Abia would benefit the people. Chinasa suggested that Kalu’s gubernatorial ambitions might be a cover for his true intention of securing a third term in the House of Representatives, insinuating that Kalu is more interested in his political survival than in the well-being of the people of Abia.
In his closing remarks, Chief Chinasa called on the people of Abia to ignore Kalu’s antics and continue to support Governor Alex Otti, whose leadership, according to him, has brought significant progress to the state. He urged Kalu to focus on attracting federal projects to Abia rather than indulging in political fantasies.
BROADCAST BY CHIEF IHEANYI FRANK CHINASA (AGUBENDE), LEADER OF LABOUR PARTY IN BENDE
My attention has been drawn to a highly provocative video currently trending on all social media platforms featuring unfathomable bogus claims by the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon Ben Kalu, that are comical and laughable, to the intent that he will deploy his position as “the number six citizen of Nigeria” to ensure that All Progressives Congress(APC) takes over the Umuahia government house from our party the Labour Party (LP) in 2027.
It is in order to correct some of the misinformation contained in the said video that I decided to release this broadcast and subsequently wish to state as follows;
1.That being the candidate of Labour Party for Bende Federal Constituency who comprehensively defeated Hon Kalu at the 2023 polls, his return to the Green Chamber was at the mercy of the judiciary, as all major local, national and international election observer reports confirm the electoral triumph of our brand in the referenced election.
2.That the infantile boasts by Rt. Hon Ben Kalu “that the next governor of Abia state will be an APC governor” is spurious, preposterous and ludicrous, and at best the desperate postulation of a drowning politician seeking cheap publicity.
- That the recent power drunk macabre dance of Hon Ben Kalu in public is a far departure from the legislative representation which our good people of Bende Federal Constituency are desperately craving.
4.That the arrogant assertion by Hon Ben Kalu that he will not be the number six citizen of the country and another party will govern his state, is a no-brainer and another manifestation of the infamous APC ’emilokan’ mentality which has completely devastated the nation.
- That the current vituperations of Hon Ben Kalu is a reflection of high level insensitivity by a self styled ‘number six citizen’ to the current unhealthy pulse of a nation that is still trying to recover from the scars of the recent #endbadgovernance protests, and the alarming but obvious political naivety of Hon Ben Kalu, since unknown to him, no single individual, no matter how highly placed can determine the fate of a state.
6.That while acceding to Hon Ben Kalu his constitution-bequeathed right of pursuing a phantom dream of contesting the Abia state gubernatorial election in 2027, he should first survive the battle of emerging a candidate for the APC before boasting of how he intends to topple the grassroots performing government of Labour Party under the leadership of Dr Alex Otti.
- That rather than boasting of how he intends to wield the powers of his new found office to crush everyone, Hon Ben Kalu should deploy his touted sixth citizen position to attract such tangible federal projects as coastal highways and light rail train commuter services that will facilitate speedy transform of Abia state.
- That sequel to the apparent lacklustre performance of the APC in such critical sectors as economy, security and campaign and against corruption, one wonders how handing over Abia to the ruling party will enhance the lot of our people.
9.That against the backdrop of a bad season of lacklustre performance in his imagined sixth citizen of Nigeria position, Hon Ben Kalu may be seeking soft landing for a third run for the Green Chambers while pretending to be contesting for governor.
Because if he is really dreaming of becoming the next governor of Abia state then he must be having a nightmare.
- That Hon Ben Kalu should stop distracting our hard working governor who is currently concentrating on delivering life transforming dividends of democracy, to the jubilation of the good people of Abia.
- That the good people of Abia are hereby enjoined to ignore the antics of Hon Ben Kalu, aimed at causing fear and disaffection among the citizenry, while sustaining their affection and support for the Labour Party led Abia state government under Dr Alex Chioma Otti.
Thanks for your attention
Chief Iheanyi Frank Chinasa (AguBende)
Leader of Labour Party in Bende
