The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, has urged armed individuals operating in the South East to abandon their hideouts, relinquish their weapons, and engage in negotiations with the Federal government for improved employment opportunities and a secure future. This advice coincided with the launch of a Food-For-Peace Program aimed at addressing hunger in the South East.
Speaking at a gathering of All Progressives Congress (APC) stakeholders and an empowerment program for his constituents in Bende, Kalu commended President Bola Tinubu for fair appointments and developmental initiatives in the South East. He expressed concern over the economic downturn in the region due to sit-at-home orders, leading to the departure of many South East-origin investors.
The Deputy Speaker condemned the actions of unidentified gunmen as a challenge to the Federal Government, asserting that resorting to violence undermined the South East’s economy and overall progress. Kalu advised agitators still operating in the bush to lay down their arms and support the Federal Government’s peace initiatives, particularly the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P).
Highlighting Tinubu’s contributions to the Igbo nation, including key appointments, Kalu stressed the need for unwavering support for Tinubu’s current and future political endeavors. While expressing his interest in the release of detained IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, Kalu emphasized that dropping weapons and embracing peace by those involved in violent activities could expedite Kanu’s release.
He cautioned against the futility of sit-at-home actions and encouraged individuals to heed the call for peace, emphasizing that violence would not prevail against the Federal Government’s firepower. Kalu shared the destruction of the Tinubu/Shettima campaign office in Abia State before the 2023 general election by gunmen as an example of the consequences of violence.
Despite challenges, Kalu acknowledged the success of PISE-P in fostering relative peace in the South East during the Yuletide. He also advocated for social cohesion between the Igbo community and other tribes as crucial for the region’s development. Additionally, during the stakeholders’ meeting, approximately 25 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC in the constituency.