The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has called on the stakeholders of the Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to allow competence, integrity and capacity guide them whenever they are looking for people to represent them in government.
He pointed out that considering individuals for political positions on the grounds of loyalty only would not take the party to the enviable height it should occupy in Abia State.
Kalu, who made the call during the Abia APC Stakeholders meeting, which was held at Asokoro in Abuja, explained that quick fixes and short-cuts do not solve challenges in a sustainable manner.
He noted that one of the roles of political parties is to influence the policies of government, and encourage the stakeholders to learn to come together regularly to come up with positions to be presented to those in power that would help them in governance.
The Deputy Speaker spoke against any move to factionalise the party, adding that if the Abia APC consolidates and expands, the chances of adding the State to the list of APC-controlled States in the South-East would be enhanced.
He expressed optimism that the APC would win again in 2027 election cycle.
He also appealed to the stakeholders to buy into the Peace In South-East Project (PISE-P), being anchored by him to promote the much-needed peace in the South-East region through non-kinetic approaches.
In his speech earlier, Senator Chris Adighije commended the Deputy Speaker for all he has been doing since he assumed office to bring enduring unity to the Abia State APC.
He said, “In all my discussions with him, in public and in private, all he has been saying is the unity of the party.”
Among the stakeholders that attended the meeting were Chief Sir Marc Wabara, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, former Minister of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike, and Hon. Nnanna Uzor Kalu.
