The press release from the Office of the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, was clear, direct, and unambiguous. There is therefore no justification for attempts to misinterpret or deliberately misrepresent it to the public.
At no time has the Deputy Speaker denied having future political ambitions. What he made clear is that the time for any public declaration has not yet come. He has neither publicly nor privately declared an intention to run for any office whether Governorship, Senate, or even re-election to the House of Representatives.
Presently, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu remains fully focused on his constitutional responsibilities. His priority is delivering dividends of democracy attracting development not only to Bende Federal Constituency but across Abia State and ensuring that qualified Abians are positioned for strategic federal appointments.
For the avoidance of doubt, no political office holder in the country has declared intentions for the 2027 elections not President Tinubu, not any sitting Governor, Senator, or Member of the House of Representatives. It would therefore amount to jumping the gun to expect the Deputy Speaker to abandon his current national assignment to begin campaigning for a future ambition when he is barely halfway through his present mandate.
Any attempt to misrepresent his position is both improper and unnecessary, except perhaps as a tactic to soothe the anxieties of Ndi New Abia.
One thing, however, remains certain: Big Ben is a big name and Ben is coming. Abia is APC come 2027
Uche Aguoru
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