Lucky Obukohwo Reporting
Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu said he has given up on asking the governor of Abia State, Alex Otti to pitch tent with the All Progressives Congress with the aim of securing his second term automatic ticket.
He had during a political event in Bende town this month, wooed Otti to join APC and contest next year’s election, assuring him of the party’s support should he come on board.
However, speaking with newsmen at his house in Bende on Friday, the Deputy Speaker said the time he wooed the governor was passed.
His words, “Initially, I asked him to join APC because I felt Abia was isolated. When his brother governors in South East who are of APC will be sitting down to discuss, Abia will not be there.
“His joining would have opened more doors for the state.” He further stated that the bond of friendship between him and the governor made him to woo Otti to APC.
The Deputy Speaker said that Otti would have carried the banner of the party in 2027 if he had joined, pointing out that he was no longer asking the governor to join APC.
“I am not anymore asking Otti to join APC. At the appropriate time, the party will field her governorship candidate for the state,” he said.
On whether he would be vying for the governorship seat in 2027, Kalu, who said this is the time for governance and not politicking, said he was waiting on his party to decide before taking any decision.
On the tax law, the Kalu said it was a fearless leader, who meant well for his people, that would cause such law to be enacted.
He said anybody parading any fake tax law, the one not passed by the National Assembly, was on his own as such would not be implemented.
He refuted the insinuations that the National Assembly was deliberately delaying the passage of the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, Kalu said the House of Representatives has finished its job on the bill, awaiting the Senate for harmonisation, which he said will be done when National Assembly resumes.
Kalu made it clear that the National Assembly is on the same page with President Bola Tinubu on local government financial autonomy, which the Supreme Court had earlier ruled on.
He appealed to state governors to abide by the decision of the Supreme Court on the matter to strengthen democracy in the country
