Kalu’s Move Was Unity, Not Rivalry — Igbo Mandate Movement

The Igbo Mandate Movement Group has rejected comments by activist Aisha Yesufu suggesting that Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu was creating tension with Abia State Governor Alex Otti, describing her remarks as inaccurate and calling her a busybody.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the group said Kalu’s engagement with Governor Otti had no personal undertone but was a political reconciliation effort aimed at encouraging the governor to join the All Progressives Congress (APC). It explained that the initiative was intended to strengthen Abia State’s relationship with the Federal Government and position Otti as a key figure within the party in the state, rather than provoke any confrontation. According to the group, what had been described as “beefing” was actually an invitation to coalition-building, stressing that political disagreements should be accurately represented.
The group also questioned Yesufu’s involvement in Abia’s internal political affairs, noting that her public interventions have largely focused on national issues rather than politics in the South-East. It urged her to better understand the realities of the region before making further public comments.
Defending the Deputy Speaker’s record, the group stated that Kalu enjoys strong support in Bende Federal Constituency and faces no organised opposition. It cited his leadership roles in the House Committee on Constitution Review and the Committee of the Whole, as well as constituency projects such as road construction, rural electrification, boreholes and healthcare facilities, as evidence of his performance. The group maintained that the people of Bende are best placed to assess Kalu’s leadership and urged Yesufu to focus on issues she has genuinely studied rather than commenting on political matters outside her immediate scope. As of press time, Yesufu had not responded to the statement.