Chief Chidiebere J. Okoh, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, has urged Ndigbo to take seriously the political message of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, following his appeal for support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the recent Item Day celebration.
Okoh’s reaction follows the enthusiastic “Obi! Obi!! Obi!!!” chants from some supporters at the event while Kalu was making a case for President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027.
Describing the Deputy Speaker as a courageous and committed APC ambassador, Okoh said Kalu had demonstrated the responsibility of a party leader by taking the message of his party to the people, regardless of the political atmosphere.
“Ben has said his own, and it is written that he is a good ambassador who can represent APC against all odds, even if it will cost him life,” Okoh stated.
He noted that Kalu’s responsibility was to present the party’s position and communicate what he believes to be the development prospects under President Tinubu, leaving the people to make their own political choices.
“He can say what he wants to say, which is to bring the good news. It is up to the people to believe; it is not by force,” he said.
Okoh further called on Ndigbo to embrace what he described as the politics of reality, arguing that the region must recognise the importance of strategic political alignment if it hopes to secure its interests and strengthen its influence in Nigeria’s political equation.
According to him, continued complaints about marginalisation will not change the region’s political fortunes unless Ndigbo began to make electoral decisions that place them in a stronger position to benefit from national political arrangements.
He cautioned that the 2027 general election should not become another occasion for the South-East to make choices without properly considering their long-term political implications.
Okoh particularly dismissed any attempt to interpret the chants at Item Day as a reason to ridicule Benjamin Kalu, stressing that the Deputy Speaker was simply fulfilling his political responsibility by canvassing support for the APC and President Tinubu.
He warned that those who mistake political banter for political victory may ultimately bear the consequences of electoral decisions that do not advance the region’s interests.
“It is an error to think you are mocking Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu for doing his part to bring the good news of development under President Tinubu, and end up being the loser if we don’t support the winning side,” he warned.
Okoh maintained that Ndigbo must look beyond political sentiments and recognise the value of supporting the party and the presidential candidate he believes offers the region a better opportunity in the emerging national political arrangement.
He urged the people to heed Benjamin Kalu’s message and support President Tinubu’s re-election in 2027, rather than repeat electoral choices that could leave the South-East struggling for greater political relevance.
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