Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has assured the South East will deliver over 70 percent vote to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2027 general elections to repay his commitment to the development of Igbo land.
Kalu recalled the promise of reconstruction, rehabilitation and reintegration to the people of the region by the Gowon regime after the civil war that claimed over 3 million lives in 1970 which was not kept.
He said President Tinubu has fulfilled the promise with the creation of the South East Development Commission (SEDC).
The Deputy Speaker, who spoke at a civic reception in his honour by Atuma Grace Movement at Ntalakwu in Ikwuano Local Government Area of Abia State, said the people of the South East will continue to support the administration of President Tinubu.
Kalu said: “No other President has remembered the promise made to Igbo people after the war like President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“Fifty years came and passed, administrations came and passed, none of them deemed it right to fulfill those promises made to Ndi Igbo and only President Bola Ahmed Tinubu took it upon himself and said, there must be a platform to respond to those proposals made to Ndi Igbo. And he chose South East Development Commission which no other President accepted to sign.
“He answered to our problem to enable us develop the rural communities in Igboland. He signed the SEDC bill into law and has funded it even when naysayers said he won’t. He loves Ndi Igbo and we Igbos remember those who love us.
“We are promising the President, 70 to 80 percent of votes from Igboland. Let us continue to remain as people that love peace and unity.”
While reacting to the public outcry that the authorities in Abia are restricting traditional rulers from engaging with some government officials of Abia extraction in their various localities, Kalu said the ill development is not reflective of true governance and the wish of the people.
“I heard the cry of the traditional rulers who mentioned he was asked not to come and receive the Deputy Speaker by the powers-that-be in the state, when we were received in Bende, we heard that they were asked not to receive those from the Federal Government, asked not to go to any function promoting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It ought not to be so! Election has come and gone. Now is time for governance. Restricting the traditional rulers from coming to welcome those working with President is not the right leadership that Abia state is looking for.
“Those who are threatening the traditional rulers, please, we beg you, allow them the freedom to exercise the mandate of the people. Abia state should be free for everybody to express where they want to belong and who they want to follow,” he said.
