A Labour Party chieftain and former Secretary to the Abia State Government, Chief Ralph Egbu, has strongly condemned the recent verbal attacks against Governor Alex Otti by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
Reacting to comments made by the Deputy Speaker during the commissioning of projects executed by Governor Otti and inaugurated on behalf of President Bola Tinubu, as well as remarks made by Kalu at a separate event he hosted on Sunday, Chief Egbu described the lawmaker’s actions as “unbecoming and out of protocol.”
He faulted Kalu for “delivering what appeared like a state-of-the-state address” at an event organised by the Abia State Government, stating that such conduct was inappropriate and disrespectful to the host.
“Going ahead to try to play down the Governor’s great achievements was a clear act of sabotage.”
“The Deputy Speaker, given his position, has a huge platform to canvass his views on nation-building and politics. He also has direct access to the President and ought to have expressed whatever opinions he has through those channels from Abuja.
“Then coming to Abia to do so was just playing to the gallery and trying to whip up sentiments that have the potential of turning our peaceful state into a political battlefield, and that one should not be condoned,” he emphasised.
Chief Egbu further criticised Kalu’s language as “undemocratic,” stating that his utterances should ordinarily attract calls for resignation in a well-ordered democracy.
“In saner climes, in places where politics is taken as a serious pathway to development, by now the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Ben Kalu, would have been facing calls for resignation from office for saying that in 2027 they would take Abia.
“That is not a democratic language. It shows a predisposition, not only to violence but to manoeuvring electoral processes and subverting them with a view to achieving parochial aims, and that shouldn’t be allowed. So he should be cautioned,” Egbu stated.
The veteran journalist and former Commissioner for Information also warned opposition politicians against engaging in actions or rhetoric capable of destabilising the peace in Abia State.
He criticised attempts by opposition figures to undermine Governor Otti’s achievements ahead of the recent commissioning ceremonies.
“I hereby warn opposition party members operating within and outside the state against antics and politics capable of turning the state into a killing field, as is the case in most states across the federation.
“I condemn the opposition for the attempt to demean the state Governor through various distractive events and outbursts before the commissioning, which were designed to rubbish the exercise that took place in Aba and Umuahia,” he added.
Chief Egbu insisted that there was no vacancy in Abia Government House in 2027, stressing that Governor Otti had already earned a second term through his outstanding performance.
He commended the prevailing peace in the state and the absence of politically motivated crises, noting that Abia residents were ready to resist any individual or group seeking to derail the current developmental momentum.
“Abia State has been very peaceful and its politics devoid of the kind of manoeuvring that often leads to destruction of lives, property, and stalling of development in other states.
“Abia residents have shown the readiness to fight anybody or group who wants to retard the progress currently being made across the state.”
