Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has urged the South-East to support President Bola Tinubu's re-election bid in 2027, arguing that the region should reciprocate his administration's interventions by backing him for a second term.
Kalu said the establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), federal appointments and infrastructure projects demonstrated Tinubu's commitment to the Igbo, unlike previous administrations.
He spoke on Saturday in Enugu at the flag-off of the APC Women's Mobilisation Campaign and South-East Women Empowerment Programme organised by the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu.
The Deputy Speaker, who is also Director-General of the APC Presidential Campaign Council 11 (South), said the region had resolved to support Tinubu and Vice-President Kashim Shettima in the January 16, 2027 presidential election.
He argued that the creation of the SEDC was a significant step towards addressing development challenges in the South-East, recalling that the promise of Reconstruction, Rehabilitation and Reintegration made after the Nigerian Civil War had remained largely unfulfilled for decades.
Kalu said successive administrations had failed to deliver on the commitment, while Tinubu signed the legislation establishing the commission after it had remained pending under previous governments.
He also recalled Tinubu's record as Lagos State governor between 1999 and 2007, citing the appointment of Ben Akabueze, an Igbo man, into his cabinet as evidence of his relationship with the South-East.
"This man has not hidden his love for Ndi Igbo. I hope we will reciprocate his kind gestures to Ndi Igbo. We must do so this time," he said.
Kalu added that the President had demonstrated his commitment through investments in roads, bridges, education and financial support.
He urged political stakeholders and residents of the South-East to mobilise behind the APC ahead of the 2027 election, claiming that governors and other leaders in the region were united in support of Tinubu.
However, he linked the region's support for the President to the expectation that the Igbo would eventually have the opportunity to produce a Nigerian president for two consecutive terms.
According to him, the South-East should not be expected to settle for a single four-year presidential term when its turn comes, given that other regions had enjoyed eight years in office.
"Those who want Ndi Igbo to do only four years, it will not work. Just like others who did eight years, when it is our turn, we will also do eight years," he said.
He maintained that the immediate priority was to support Tinubu for a second term because of what he described as his administration's commitment to the region.
Discussion0