Yuletide: Coalition Lauds Kalu’s South-East Peace Initiative

A pro-President Bola Ahmed Tinubu group, the Renewed Hope Coalition, has commended the Peace in the South East Project (PISE-P) initiated by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, for contributing to the relative peace recorded in the South-East during the 2025 Yuletide season.

In a statement issued in Enugu, the National Coordinator of the group, Comrade Emmanuel Okoro, described the 2025 Christmas and New Year celebrations as a significant departure from previous years characterised by insecurity, tension and sit-at-home disruptions.

According to the group, residents of the region were able to travel freely, reunite with their families and celebrate the festive season without fear, a development it attributed largely to the non-kinetic peace-building approach of PISE-P.

“Unlike previous years when fear and unrest defined the festive period in the South-East, this year’s Yuletide was largely peaceful, allowing normal social and economic activities to thrive,” Okoro said.

He explained that the Peace in the South East Project, convened by the Deputy Speaker, focuses on reconciliation, dialogue, community engagement and development-driven solutions rather than a purely security-based response to the region’s challenges.

The Renewed Hope Coalition noted that since its launch in late 2023, PISE-P has continued to promote socio-economic initiatives and inclusive dialogue aimed at addressing the root causes of insecurity in the region.

The group also commended Kalu for his consistent support for President Tinubu’s administration and the Renewed Hope Agenda, describing his legislative and constituency interventions as complementary to the President’s vision for national unity and economic growth.

Okoro referenced Kalu’s recent end-of-year town hall meeting in Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State, where the Deputy Speaker highlighted the impact of the Federal Government’s economic reforms and praised the administration’s inclusive policies.

The group further cited Kalu’s recent announcement of a ₦1 billion intervention to support 2,000 micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Abia State, alongside the provision of palliatives and infrastructure projects, as evidence of his commitment to grassroots development.

“The Deputy Speaker’s peace-building efforts, legislative performance and empowerment programmes align with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Okoro said.

The coalition urged stakeholders in the South-East to sustain the momentum of peace and support initiatives such as PISE-P, while also calling for continued backing of President Tinubu’s reform agenda.

“As Nigeria moves into 2026, we are confident that with leaders like Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu championing peace and development, the South-East will reclaim its place as a major hub of economic activity in the country,” the statement added.