27th July 2025, NewsOrient, News, Governance And Development.
Photo Credit: Tribune Online. File photo of Gov Alex Otti and Hon Benjamin Kalu

A socio-cultural and political group, South-East Positive Movement (SEPM), has commended Gov Alex Otti of Abia State for not joining issues with the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, even after the lawmaker openly insulted the governor’s late father who should be allowed to rest in peace in his grave.

The group called on Hon Ben Kalu to quickly apologize to Governor Alex Otti, to Ndi Abia and to Ndigbo in general over his “reckless utterances against the dead.”

In a statement signed by the group’s Chairman, Hon.Uguru Ukandu, and made available to newsmen in Abakaliki, the group said: “It is a taboo in Igboland for a full grown man or woman to speak ill of the dead, not to talk of Governor Otti’s late father who should be given a respectable place amongst our honoured leaders.
So, as a people, we were shocked when one of our sons, the Honourable Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, publicly said some unprintable things about the late father of Governor Alex Otti of Abia State. This is unfortunate, no matter the planned political advantage he hoped to gain from that sacrilege.

“We are still awaiting his unalloyed and public apology to Dr Alex Otti, to Ndi Abia and to Ndigbo in general over that unthoughtful and reckless utterances.”

“On the part played by Governor Alex Otti, we are deeply proud of the maturity and restraint he displayed by not responding personally or even through his aides in the same reckless manner and in not giving Hon Benjamin Kalu the attention and leverage he wanted to get by attacking and insulting Governor Otti’s late father.

“Governor Otti’s silence over this matter, which we consider a noble response in this matter, is another good example of his leadership credit,” Hon.Uguru Ukandu, said.

The group advises “Hon Benjamin Kalu to face his duties as the Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and stop trying to impress President Bola Ahmed Tinubu by attempting to do what he knows he lacks the political capacity to pull through now.”

The socio-cultural and political group also blames “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for encouraging his party members to employ dubious characters whose work is to stir up strife where none should exist in their desperate attempt to magnify their political importance.”

Recalling the face off between Hon Benjamin Kalu and Governor Alex Otti-led Abia State Government, the group lamented that the “Deputy Speaker, a lawmaker elected to represent Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State at the House of Representatives, is yet to explain his personal involvement in the indictment made by Abia State Government against his Chief aide, Sam Hart, and other directors of a company that bothers on alleged fraudulent attempt to claim Abia State Government’s investments in a company.

“We are surprised that a lawmaker who expects re-election and prides himself of being the right anchor of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s dream of gaining some votes in the grossly neglected Southeast geo-political zone during the 2027 General Elections, thinks he can do without clearly clearing himself from knowing how his Chief aide and other directors of a company allegedly plotted to convert Abia State Government’s investments to themselves.”

~ Published By NewsOrient Network

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