Visionless Igbo Group Lauds APC For Zoning Deputy Speaker To South-east

Uche Onwuchekwa

Rather than mourn for the bruising relegation of its people to the ground, a visionless and irritable group claiming to be part of the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide reportedly lauded the All Progressives Congress, APC, for zoning the position of Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives to the South-East.

The question is what are the prospects in the office of the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives in Nigeria. Little wonder some have described that appointment as a slight to the people of the south-east.

If Ben Kalu’s were not looking for a self serving interest, he would have rejected the said appointment to the office of the Deputy Speaker.

Igbo is neither good for Presidency nor Leadership of the Senate but for an office without portfolio.

Recall that in the zoning arrangement released by the APC National Working Committee, Hon. Ben Kalu from Abia State was named as the party’s preferred choice for the position.

In a statement made available to journalists by the National President of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide, Mazi Okwu Nnabuike, he lauded the APC for zoning the position to the South-East.

Okwu said though the zone would have wanted more, it cherished the position of Reps Deputy Speaker, having not been considered at all in the past four years, a statement that is irrationally irritating.

He stated that, “under the second tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government, the South-East was totally sidelined in the scheme of things, including the zoning of principal positions of the National Assembly.

“However, we are delighted that at least the APC leadership and the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has factored the zone into the principal officers of the National Assembly.

“We have always said that the time of electioneering is over and that every part of the country should be carried along. We are delighted that the President-elect has started on such a good footing.

“The party has made the right choice in Hon. Ben Kalu, a true Igbo son, who has made an impact in the National Assembly.

“Hon. Ben Kalu is a long-serving member of the House of Representatives and campaigned vigorously for the APC during the presidential election, a situation that led to an attack on his house.

“He has sponsored over 43 bills which have direct impact on the populace, with two of them assented to by the President.

“We, therefore, affirm that the APC leadership and the President-elect made the right choice.

“We are calling on the Reps members-elect to all vote massively for Hon. Ben Kalu as the Deputy Speaker when the House is inaugurated in June.”

Ohanaeze, however, condemned what it called an orchestrated media campaign against Kalu by some individuals from the South-East.

Okwu said, “we know the persons behind this needless campaign; they are those who feel it is either them or no one else.

“We want to warn them to desist from this pull-him-down syndrome which has been the bane of the South-East zone.

“This is a time for the entire people of the South-East to unite and rally round Hon. Ben Kalu to represent the true interest of the people of the zone.

“But should they not desist from this wicked media campaign, we shall have no option than to expose them as enemies of Igbo land.”

From the aforementioned clueless statement by a supposed representative of Igbo leadership, does this not call for sober reflection? Couldn’t it have been better you discount yourself from such inglorious path of mockery and acceptance of the position of “inconsequential third citizens.”

It is even suggestive that Ben Kalu should have been allowed to pursue his position rather than drag Ohanaeze to begin to make such a shameful statement, struggling for an office without portfolio. The office is only nominal and lacking in influence in terms of proper negotiation on who gets what, how and when.

Since we have more of Contractors at the leadership position, it is possible, Ben Kalu may leverage the proposed office to influence contracts to his firms.