…Urges Umunneochi leaders To Call Daughter To Order
Following what they described as blackmails and attacks against their son, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, members of Bende Leadership Forum (BLF), his kinsmen, have called on the leaders of Umunneochi, the kinsmen of the Minister of State Labour and Employment, Rt. Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, to call her to order.
BLF expressed disappointment and displeasure at “the recent sponsored media attacks against our illustrious son, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.”
They said; “We have every reason to believe that though the press conferences are done by proxy, they have the imprints of the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejiocha because, she has not denied nor refuted the allegations made by the group.”Addressing journalists in Abuja on Friday, on the matter, the
President of the Forum,
High Chief Kingsley Enwere, ” we
regret that Nkeiruka Onyejeocha our daughter in Abia has chosen such an ignoble route to smear the image of one of the best and brightest sons of Abia, who President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his colleague at the National Assembly saw his credibility and capacity and supported his emergency as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.”
The statement went on to say, “after a prolonged meeting and consultation with all the critical stakeholders in Abia North therefore state as follows; That both Rt Hon. Benjamin Kalu and Hon. Nkeiruka Onyejeocha are our children and we cannot stand aloof and watch them tear down each other.
“That in the history of Abia North this is the first time a son or daughter has ever attained the position of Deputy Speaker and that we will go to any length to protect Rt. Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu against external attacks and ensure he remains in that office just as we would have protected Onyejeocha if she was the one occupying it.
“That we are surprised that Hon Nkeiruka Onyejeocha seems to be having sleepless nights over the position of the Deputy speaker occupied by her own brother, Rt Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu. What we do not know is why she seems to be averse to the political successes of her own brother. That is anti Abia North, anti Igbo and Anti Human!
“That we knew Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu as a goal getter, who has always made Abia North and Abia state proud, the reason he was singled out as the Reps Spokesperson as a first timer in his first tenure. We are therefore not surprised at the turn of events.
“That as at the time Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu was elected Deputy Speaker, Hon Onyejeocha was not there, and still not a member of the National Assembly even up to this moment, one wonders whether she had expected the southeast, and the National Assembly and Nigeria to stand still and wait for her to reclaim her mandate before electing principal officers of the house of representatives.
“That we are aware that our daughter Onyejeocha had spent 3 tenures of 12 years in the National Assembly before her brother and our son Hon. Benjamin Kalu was elected, and that she didn’t ascend these positions she now covets from outside the national Assembly when there was no Benjamin Kalu in the National Assembly to contend with her.
“We had expected our daughter Onyejeocha, rather than feeling defeated, inferior, obsolete and depleted, to erupt with joy and be proud that in her absence, her own brother fulfilled her lifelong dreams in just 5 years, and as a veteran, embrace him, give him all the support, advise and encouragement he needs to succeed.
“That Rt. Hon Benjamin Okezie Kalu is not responsible for his sisters political circumstances which may afterall be temporary as they do not belong to the same constituency and therefore should not be a victim of her misplaced and transferred aggression.
“That we advise Onyejeocha to concentrate on the job given to her as a minister which she holds in trust for the entire southeast than engaging in acts capable of pulling down her own brother from a position she, at least as at this moment cannot fill because till date, she is still not a member of the National Assembly!
“That if our daughter Onyejeocha prefers to be in the National Assembly again after 16 years, she should first resign her position as a minister, for another Abia North Son or daughter to replace her and then concentrate on reclaiming her supposed mandate. It is only after she has succeeded in reclaiming her supposed mandate that she can start scheming for a principal position in the National Assembly.
“That Nkeiruka Onyejeocha should cease forthwith from distracting her brother from discharging the duties for which he was elected and channel that energy towards job creation as our teeming youths need to be taken off the streets.
“That this press release will serve as the only and final advise and warning we will be giving to our daughter Nkeiruka Onyejeocha.Any further blackmail or sponsored media attack on her brother will be met with a more virulent response and actions that will resonates beyond imaginable proportions.
‘We therefore call on Ndi Eze Umunneochi, leaders of thought, opinion moulders and political stakeholders to caution and call their daughter and “wife’ to order so as maintain the cordial relationship we share as brothers and sisters in the same senatorial district.”
