UMUAHIA — The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has charged Ndigbo to abandon sentiment in politics and embrace strategy, warning that sentiment does not drive political growth, participation or dividends of democracy.
Kalu gave the charge on Thursday in Umuahia during the inauguration of the Abia State All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
Addressing party leaders, candidates and stakeholders at the International Conference Centre, Umuahia, Kalu said the Igbo nation had over the years been very successful in business because of strategic thinking, rebuilding the South East after the civil war without government intervention.
He however lamented that the same strategic formula that made Ndigbo prosperous in business had not been applied to their political life.
”While we have gotten it wrong in our political growth, is that rather than apply that formula of strategy that has helped us to grow in our businesses, in our economic life, the Igbos have rather than being strategic, been sentimental,” Kalu said.
”And sentiment does not drive political growth. Sentiment does not drive political participation, engagement, advancement. Sentiment does not drive the dividends of democracy.”
He said it was time for Ndigbo to drop sentiment and pick up strategy, describing strategy as a strategic regional political alliance with other parts of the country.
”To be alone is not an honour. To be alone is not a thing of pride. To walk in silos is not what should define our people,” Kalu declared.
”We must come together with all our regions. We must shake hands across the Niger so as to remain relevant in the scheme of things.”
Kalu warned that no one should be deceived that Ndigbo could do it alone, recalling that others had tried that path in the past and failed.
He cited the late former President Muhammadu Buhari, who he said tried severally for the political emancipation of his people but failed until there was a handshake across the Niger.
”Let no one deceive you that on our own we can do it. Others have tried that in the time past and they failed, including the late, great President Muhammadu Buhari. He tried severally… but he failed until there was a handshake across the Niger,” he said.
According to Kalu, wrong calculation will take Ndigbo backward, while the right calculation will take them forward. He described the right calculation as dropping the sentiment that says it is better to waste votes.
”There is no pride in waste. That is sentimental. What is strategic is to invest our votes. And as Igbos, we have always made investment that yielded dividend. And that is why we are prosperous,” he said.
He assured the gathering that there would be a paradigm shift in Igbo politics, where votes would no longer be thrown into a trash can, but invested in a rewarding platform.
”That platform is no other person than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Jagaban,” Kalu said.
He said Igbos must wake up, arise and arm themselves with their votes to take the position that belongs to them, to be counted among the geopolitical zones that have produced the President of the country.
Kalu urged the campaign council to take the message to churches, town halls and communities, and to reject any message that encourages wasting votes in the name of Igbo agenda.
Drop Sentiment, Pick Strategy: Kalu Charges Ndigbo On 2027
