Following a protest at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday by a group under the aegis Concerned Citizens of Abia North, the member representing Bende Federal Constituency, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has taken a swipe at those behind the protest, describing them as paid protesters and picketers.
ABN TV reports that The group, Concerned Citizens of Abia North had in the protest called for the seat of the senator representing Abia North senatorial district, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu is declared wanted over the prolonged legal battle bordering on corruption.
In a release on Tuesday made available to ABN TV, the federal lawmaker, Benjamin Kalu maintained that the protesters are being sponsored by an aggrieved opposition desperate for one final ploy to deprive Abia North of the competent representation of Senator Kalu.
While insisting that they, therefore, do not represent the voice of the people of Abia North, Hon. Kalu said the protesters are unknown faces to him as the representative of Sen. Kalu as well as to leaders of Abia North town unions in Abuja.
Hon Benjamin Kalu emphasised that the ban on inter-state travels is a negation of the claim that the protesters are from Abia North.
Hon Benjamin Kalu also expressed gratitude to the Senate for the support shown to one of their own during this period.
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“This publication has become necessary to address the mischievousness of certain impostors who have paraded themselves as Concerned Citizens of Abia North demanding that the seat of the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, be declared vacant.
“As the legislator representing Senator Kalu in the House of Representatives, as a member of the House representing Bende in Abia North, and as an eye witness to the phoney protest by the so-called Concerned Citizens of Abia North at the National Assembly complex today, I confirm that none of the demonstrators was recognizable to me as persons of Abia North extraction. Furthermore, information reaching me from all known associations of Abia North people in Abuja indicate that the soi-disant protesters are unknown elements.
“The foregoing, including the Covid-19 protocols restricting interstate travel from Abia to Abuja FCT, strongly suggest that these picketers are paid protesters hired by an aggrieved opposition desperate for one final ploy to deprive Abia North of the competent representation of Senator Kalu. They, therefore, do not represent the voice of the people of Abia North.
“It must be clearly stated that during his brief absence, Abia North was not deprived of adequate representation as can be seen by the sheer amount and quality of capital projects in the 2020 budget secured by Senator Kalu for the benefit of the Senatorial district.
“Also, all calls by the hired protesters for Senator Kalu’s seat to be vacated are unfounded because, by any form of computation, the number of sittings missed by Senator Kalu during his brief incarceration does not warrant such vacation.
“After all, the fact remains that due to the NCDC recommended Covid-19 protocols, the National Assembly has barely sat this year. Nevertheless, we are certain that at the next sitting of the Senate, Senator Kalu will be present.
“I wish to use this opportunity to thank the Senate for showing unwavering support for one of their own during this trying time; a camaraderie and solidarity that demonstrated exemplary faith in our judicial system, eventually allowing justice to run its full course.
“I also thank the entire people of Abia North for all their prayers and for standing strong during the travails of Senator Kalu. It was Bishop Desmond Tutu who said, “…the texture of our universe is one where there is no question at all but that good and laughter and justice will prevail”. Justice has prevailed for the good of the people of Abia North who are happy to continue enjoying the quality representation by Senator Kalu in the red chamber.
“All aggrieved members of the opposition are hereby cautioned to shun the temptation to undermine Abia North’s senatorial representation for the sake of personal benefit,” he said.
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