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PRESS RELEASE..
History Is Against You" — APC Knocks Labour Party Over Bende Zoning
Debate..
The attention of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Abia State Chapter, has been drawn to a purported response to our position on the so-called zoning debate in Bende Federal Constituency.
Although the said response is watery, filled with personal insults and unnecessary name calling and completely lacking in logic, constructive and objective arguments, we find it necessary to reply for the purposes of setting the records straight so as not to allow members of the public to be further blackmailed and deceived.
Let me begin by reminding the crisis-ridden Nvosi faction of the Labour Party that is not even sure of there fate.
that "Odumeje has a doctorate from Gregory University and even delivers lectures in his church." Just as anybody can pay £12,000 and enrol in a few weeks' certification course, take pictures at the gates of Harvard University, and return home to claim Harvard trained.
let me clear your ignorance: addressing a meeting of Igbere students at Delby is neither a demonstration of cerebral capacity nor the same as mounting the big stage.
I consider it necessary to make these clarifications, having watched the Labour Party labour so hard in its desperate attempt to convince the public that a man who graduated with a Third Class degree from Ebonyi State University is now its model of intelligence. That is indeed very sad.
While the APC has made it abundantly clear that, as a political party, we do not operate a zoning or rotation policy, for the benefit of educating the Labour Party which appears to jump into debates without the prerequisite knowledge or facts, but merely to attract undue sympathy and deceive the gullible public, let us agree, without conceding, that there was indeed an arrangement resembling power rotation in Bende Federal Constituency.
Even if such an arrangement existed, it would still not favour the Labour Party candidate, "Chima Anyaso", who, by every standard, lacks the capacity and intellect required to represent a politically sophisticated Federal Constituency like Bende.
Let us, for the purpose of this argument, even assume outside the established principles of our party, which does not recognize zoning that zoning should be considered.
Even under such a scenario, the argument still favours Bende South. Bende South has, so far, occupied the House of Representatives seat for only eight years, compared to Hon. Nnenna Ukeje from Bende North, who represented the constituency for 12years before the emergence of Hon. Benjamin Kalu.
If zoning were to be applied, as being propagated by some half-intelligent individuals who lack a proper understanding of history, it would only be logical for Bende South to complete the same sixteen-year cycle before the seat rotates again.
As it stands today, the history and principle of zoning clearly does not favour Bende North, which has already produced a member of the House of Representatives for sixteen years, a governor for eight years, and currently has a sitting senator in the person of H.E. Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, who has served for eight years and is on his way to having another term.
Even when the seat eventually returns to Bende North, it certainly will not be for Chima Anyaso. Bende is far too enlightened to send a content creator and an intellectually challenged character to the House of Representatives.
We are not talking about economic power because even Chima Anyaso knows he is miles away from where Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu stands. We are not talking about gathering money from in-laws, sisters, their husbands, and friends like a cooperative society. We are talking about the strength, capacity, and accomplishments of one man, not community funding.
How does anyone imagine that Chima Anyaso, who could not stand against Benjamin Kalu in 2019 when the latter was not yet in the House of Representatives and when the APC was not as popular in Abia State, can now come anywhere close to him in an election, especially now that Benjamin Kalu is not only the pride of Bende but has become a global brand and a shining example of quality, efficient, effective, and result-oriented representation across Africa?
Recently, I have closely monitored their activities. When the Deputy Speaker was invited by the University of Calabar to deliver a lecture during the institution's 50th Anniversary Convocation as a distinguished alumnus, he gave an outstanding performance and was proudly supported by over 90 percent of his 1998 Law Class.
Within the same period, Chima Anyaso reportedly lobbied Ebonyi State University to invite him to speak and, rather than being accompanied by his classmates, transported market women from Igbere to Ebonyi, to cheer and shout OFUJI in an apparent attempt to prove that "if Ben can do it, I too can do it."
The Labour Party and its already failed candidate for Bende Federal Constituency should also be reminded that the Deputy Speaker recently returned from Chatham House, where he addressed global policymakers; proceeded to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), where he engaged development partners; addressed the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association at the UK Parliament; observed the Prime Minister's Questions session; participated in climate investment engagements in London; and also spoke at the Globe Parliamentary Platform.
For the purpose of public information, the Benjamin Kalu Foundation began awarding scholarships to students from Bende as far back as 2003, without social media fanfare. The Foundation was formally launched on December 29 of that year, long before Chima Anyaso graduated from the university.
It would amount to belittling the APC for us to engage in debates about party primaries with a political party that has never conducted a credible primary election, has no idea or understanding of internal party democracy. It is a party where an emperor simply reclines in his bedroom in Nvosi, dishes out nomination forms, and appoints candidates without any input from party members.
The APC therefore uses this opportunity to inform the Labour Party that on Saturday, January 16, 2027, the first electoral victory for our great party will be recorded in Bende Federal Constituency. The results of that election will be declared before 12 noon, with Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Utabiri Bende, securing 94 percent of the total votes cast.
Signed.....
Uche Aguoru
Publicity Secretary
APC, Abia State
