UMUAHIA — The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has listed the achievements of the Renewed Hope Agenda in the South East and Abia State as the foundation of the campaign for the re-election of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Kalu spoke on Thursday in Umuahia during the inauguration of the Abia State All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council for the re-election of President Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.
He told the gathering that on the strength of the record of President Tinubu, who chose the difficult path of reform to confront the problems holding Nigerians back, the case for his re-election was already made.
”Let us consider what the Renewed Hope Agenda has brought to the South East and to Abia. And for the record, that alone remains the foundation of the case we present to our people here today and going forward,” Kalu said.
He said one of the landmark achievements was the signing of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) into law in 2024, after previous administrations were scared to do so.
”Previous administrations were scared to sign it. Because they didn’t want to be called the lovers of Igbo land. They didn’t want to be seen associating with the Igbos,” Kalu said.
”But that man came and signed it into law. And that has been funded.”
He said the President has also given the region the South East Investment Company, funded with over $150 million.
On roads and transportation, Kalu said there were visible projects to show the people.
”For those who are watching me on the screen, who will be asking what has the South East benefited, remember these roads were there before he came on board,” he said.
He cited the Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway, including the Abia section, with one full carriageway completed, now being reconstructed at over N350 billion, with its first 15 kilometres opened in April.
He also cited the Second Niger Bridge and the 17.5km access road now being built at N174 billion, which he said would connect the bridge fully to the road network.
Kalu listed the Abia Airport, upgraded through a federal-state partnership to an international cargo airport, as another major dividend of the administration.
On energy and industrialisation, he said a 400km, $100 million South East gas pipeline has been flagged off in Enugu, expected to deliver 254 million standard cubic feet of gas daily to hubs such as Abia, alongside the ANOH gas processing plant.
”I am giving you tools that you are going to use, to give to people when you engage with them,” Kalu told the council members.
He disclosed that the President approved 500,000 solar power lines through his office, to ensure that 500,000 rural households across the South East receive solar systems to power their homes.
”We are doing it on behalf of Mr. President, because of what he has done, the love he has shown to us. And we have started with the first 42,000. The installation is going on at the moment,” he said.
Kalu also announced that the Federal Executive Council approved $125 million in development finance for Abia, part of a $263.8 million programme for road construction, expected to create over 3,000 local jobs.
He added that 1,200 federal housing units were coming to Abia, while more than N45 billion in student loans has been released, with more available for students to go to school.
”I don’t want any student not to go to school because there is no money to train,” Kalu said.
He urged the campaign council to take the list of achievements to the people, saying the record alone was enough to convince voters.
Kalu: Tinubu Did What Others Feared To Do For Igbos
