Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has reaffirmed his commitment to partnering with Dr Alex Otti of the Labour Party to build a brighter future for Abia State.

Kalu made the remarks in a birthday message to Governor Otti, who turned 61 on Wednesday, wishing him good health and many more years of service. On behalf of his family and constituents from Bende Federal Constituency, the Deputy

Speaker described Otti as a “big brother, friend, and governor,” while commending his dedication to the growth and development of Abia State.

While praising the governor’s sustained efforts to improve the welfare of Abia residents, Kalu clarified that his previous calls for greater focus on state development should not be interpreted as diminishing Otti’s achievements.

“My call for more work is to better the lot of our people and does not diminish the efforts already made by Otti’s administration,” Kalu stated.

Acknowledging the inherent challenges of governance, he expressed confidence that collective efforts by stakeholders would sustain positive transformation in the state. He vowed to “always commit to partnering with Governor Otti to build a brighter future for Abia State.”

It is recalled that Kalu had previously acknowledged Otti’s achievements across various sectors but noted that they were not commensurate with federal allocations and other state resources, urging the governor to do more.

Kalu also criticised Otti for allegedly not recognising the contributions of the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to Abia’s development. In past statements, he had suggested that such oversights could influence the governor’s 2027 reelection prospects, while urging Otti to defect to the APC. Kalu promised that if Otti joined the party, he would support him in taking over the leadership of the state APC.

In response, Governor Otti reiterated his commitment to remaining in the Labour Party, stating that he would leave future political decisions to time and circumstance. (Guardian)

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