Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has called on the South East to take a frontline role in President Bola Tinubu’s re-election campaign ahead of the 2027 general elections, stating that the era of playing second fiddle in national politics is over.
Speaking in Umuahia, the capital of his home state, Abia, at the unveiling of the Renewed Hope Partners initiative, Kalu emphasized that the zone must do more than offer token support to the Tinubu-led federal government.
He described RHP as a strategic platform to publicize the achievements of the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Kalu explained that the RHP would engage in grassroots voter education to deepen understanding of the Renewed Hope Agenda among communities in the region.
“The RHP would create ambassadors whose job would be to advocate and showcase the good works of President Tinubu’s administration in the country, particularly in the South East region, to convince them of the need for continuity,” he said.
To facilitate this, he revealed plans to set up Renewed Hope Councils in every LGA across the South East.
These councils, he said, would be linked to the South East Development Commission (SEDC) outreach teams, integrating the President’s policy wins into tangible local programmes.
According to him, “each of the seven pillars would be aligned with local town-hall campaigns, ensuring that every citizen sees the direct benefits of President Tinubu’s agenda.”
The Deputy Speaker praised Tinubu’s leadership, saying the administration had made significant strides in economic reform, youth empowerment, and bridging developmental divides across the country.
“President Tinubu’s administration has fundamentally improved the nation’s economy by empowering the youth and thus begun to bridge the development gap between various zones,” he noted.
Citing specific accomplishments in the South East, Kalu pointed to the President’s commitment to completing the Eastern Rail Line from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, which would link key commercial hubs such as Aba and Onitsha to Northern markets.
“This project is expected to unlock a ₦50 billion annual trade portfolio,” he added.
He also highlighted energy infrastructure developments, including the gas project commissioned by Tinubu in Imo State, the expansion of the AHL and ANOH Gas Processing Plants, and the construction of the 23.3 km ANOH–OB3 Custody Transfer Metering Station pipeline.
According to him, these initiatives, once completed, “would collectively supply approximately 500 million standard cubic feet of gas per day, thereby increasing domestic gas supply by at least 25%.”
Kalu mentioned that President Tinubu had also shown commitment to industrializing the oil and gas sector in the region through the establishment of NOGaPS Industrial Parks by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) across states like Bayelsa, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Abia, and Ondo.
He further said the President supports the full development of the Anambra Gas Basin for national and regional economic benefit.
Beyond the South East, Kalu said the Tinubu-led government has performed well nationwide, pointing to the doubling of federal revenues to over ₦9 trillion in the first quarter of 2024 and a 97% drop in debt servicing within just 13 months.
He also cited $50.8 billion in foreign investments and growth in GDP from 27% in 2023 to 34% in 2024 as signs of the administration’s success.
According to him, the newly established SEDC has signed a memorandum of understanding with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement an integrated development plan.
“This includes investment in agriculture, manufacturing, and technology to stimulate entrepreneurship, job creation, and critical infrastructure development,” he said.
Kalu further urged the federal government to fast-track additional infrastructure across the region, including the construction of gas pipelines, dredging of the Onitsha River Port to open up inland waterways for trade, gully erosion control across the states, and eco-conservation projects such as reforestation of Udi Hills.
He called for more ecological funds to combat flood risks in cities like Aba and Onitsha and the preservation of mangrove ecosystems along the Imo River to sustain local fisheries and protect shorelines.
“Mr. President, having delivered on his eight-point agenda, the South East region should decisively align with his-led federal government and harness these gains for their well-being,” Kalu declared.
“I therefore urge the South East Region to reciprocate the President’s gesture by giving him the majority votes come 2027,” he concluded.
