Kalu: Abia’s next governor will come from APC

The Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, had said that the next governor of Abia State would come from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

This was made known in a viral video on the internet in the early hours of August 20, 2024, where Hon. Kalu was seen putting out his reasons for the statement.

Kalu said that Mr. Alex Otti would be the last Labour Party (LP) governor in the state.

In the video that seemed like an interview, he said: “I say it without mincing words. The next governor of Abia State will be APC governor; I say it without mincing words.

“We are friends, yes; we work together, yes; but I will not be number six citizen of the country and another party will govern my state.

In the next election of 2027, an APC governor will be there, I’ve told him in person.

“I’ve told him publicly and privately that APC governor will be the next governor of Abia State.

“How it will happen, I don’t know but it will happen.”

The person who seemed like the interviewer asked him why he was so confident and he replied:

“I’m confident because it will happen… because we are working hard.

“I’m confident because my government is working hard; the president is working hard, and Abia will repay the president.

“The president that has given you South East Development Commission (SEDC)… appointing Abians into administration... allowing attraction of dividends of democracy to Abia State will be repaid.”

“We are not ungrateful people” — Kalu

Speaking further, Kalu said: “We are not ungrateful people; monkey will not work and baboon will chop.

“APC will not help the state to be strong and then Labour will take the credit, no, no, no. APC will determine the next governor of Abia State.

He also went on to say that he didn’t care who the person is but one thing he knows is that APC will be the next state governor.

The Deputy Speaker appreciated that the present governor of the state is his friend and is doing well.

He spoke on how he is proud of him but said that they have to push for their party, APC, to take over the state.

He stated he told Mr. President that and also his party that had given him the sixth position too.

Also, he expressed confidence that ‘the governor would do the right thing at the right time’.

Nigerians kick

However, the statement did not sit well with some Nigerians who took to X, formerly Twitter, to express their feelings.

Reacting: Charley @leeymackk said: “A very irrelevant statement, who cares if u are the number one man of the world.”

Overjoy Charles @ overjoycharles said: “Is the other party not a Nigerian party? Is the goal not to have a government that will work for the people?

“Obviously not, because he doesn’t care about who becomes the next governor or how it will happen.

“It’s looking like it’s going to get worst for Nigeria and Nigerians.”

Gbemisola CFC @QUEENOFDBLUES1 posted: “This can only be heard from a country of anyhowness.

“Like the audacity and the assurance. APC don really see Nigerians finish.🤦‍♀️”

Son Of Man @OsebiFy said: “Person when go soon decamp to APC. What do you take his romance with Tinubu for?”

Prince Land @OkworiDeco also said: Deputy Speaker… are u the first? They done use this one!

“Go and ask those before u how they used them. U want to start a fight u can’t finish.

“U won’t even win second tenure from all indications.”

It could be recall that Alex Otti, who is the current governor of Abia State, is from Labour Party, while Benjamin Kalu is from APC.

The question on the lips of observers remains: “Does Benjamin Kalu really have the power to say who the next governor of the state will be?

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook