Former Minority Leader of Abia State House of Assembly, Hon. Chijioke Chukwu says the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon.Benjamin Kalu has been vindicated over his viral interview where he called on Governor Alex Otti to join the All Progressives Congress.
Honourable Chukwu in an interview with Newsmen, disclosed that the comment by Labour Party Governorship Candidate in 2023 election in Lagos, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour that his party would takeover Lagos State in 2027 from the ruling APC is not different from Kalu’s position that APC will clinch the seat of power in Abia State in next election.
Recall that Rhodes-Vivour on the sidelines of Labour Party’s extended stakeholders meeting in Umuahia said the opposition party is now positioned to end the grip on Nigeria’s Commercial capital of Lagos by the APC.
“LP is now well structured, not just to win but to take power in 2027. What we have come to do here in Umuahia is to bring everybody on the same page. We are set for new victories in 2027.
“I believe Labour Party will win Lagos State more convincingly in 2027. Since after the 2023 elections, work has not stopped; we have not gone quiet. Every day, we get stronger and stronger. So, we are not just going to win but stand up and take power,” He affirmed.
Reacting to the statement, Hon Chukwu wondered why the deputy speaker is being villified by Labour Party Supporters for showing his desire to grow his party and have Abia State benefit fully from the Federal Government like other APC controlled states.
“One of the major characteristics of a good leader and a calculative politician is your ability to say first what people will or may want to say later when yours have trended with convincing and controversial comments not withstanding.
“RT. Hon. Benjamin Kalu is the man in the recent happenings of politics from South-East who have contributed the positive repositioning of the aged long agony of NDI IGBO. He is respectful and responsible yet does not fear to speak with boldness without fear or favour (mincing words) when the need rises.
Recently, he boldly stated that the labour party in Abia State will not win the 2027 governorship election and that his party APC will be the one to produce the next governor of Abia State. He further stated that he doesn’t know who that person will be…as his friend and brother, the current governor of Abia State, is doing well at the moment,” He disclosed.
The Former Bende North State Constituency Representative urged Labour Party stakeholders to eat the humble pie and apologise to the deputy speaker for taking his comments out of context.
“The former Lagos State governorship candidate who is now in labour party senator Rhodes Vivour made the same statement during the labour party stakeholders meeting in Abia State. He said, “Labour party will win the 2027 governorship election in Lagos State.” That they will win and take over power from the current party.
Now, my next question is, why haven’t these bought over E-rats started fooling themselves on social media with attacks to the former senator?
Does this mean that what I thought about the paid media group against Benkalu was actually true? Are they trying to demarket someone who has not made his intention of contesting the next election on governorship position known?
I think Ben has become a force that everyone wants to align with. If you can not criticize the Senator Rhodes, you have no justification to talk down on the people’s Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives.” He stated.