PHOTO: Gov. Alex Otti
By: Rita Adewale
The Abia State Government has accused the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, of overseeing the demolition of a public school without consulting relevant state authorities, dismissing his recent claims of extending goodwill and collaboration to Governor Alex Otti.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Ukoha Njoku, described as “reckless” the demolition of Eluokwu Community School in Igbere, Bende Local Government Area.
According to the state government, the school had already been earmarked and awarded to a contractor for upgrade into a smart school under the Otti administration.
The government said Governor Otti has consistently prioritised governance over partisan politics and has demonstrated openness to collaboration with federal lawmakers, including the Deputy Speaker.
“Governor Otti not only pledged support for projects attracted by Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu and other federal lawmakers to their constituencies, he also demonstrated genuine goodwill by allocating a large expanse of land along the Umuahia–Bende Road for a housing estate project attracted by the Deputy Speaker,” the statement said.
It added that the Governor approved the land allocation despite political pressure, as a mark of support, cooperation and respect for intergovernmental collaboration.
The state government, however, faulted Kalu’s actions in Igbere, saying the demolition of Eluokwu Community School was carried out without recourse to due process, even after contractors handling the state-approved upgrade project reportedly identified themselves at the site.
“The demolition was a deliberate affront to the State Government,” the statement said. “It is surprising that a ranking lawmaker, well-versed in the provisions of the law, would proceed in such a manner rather than approach the State Government for an alternative location—an option the Governor would have readily considered.”
According to the statement, after the demolished school was sealed by the state government in line with existing laws, the Deputy Speaker allegedly bypassed state-level resolution mechanisms and reported the matter in Abuja.
The Abia government claimed that authorities who reviewed the matter cautioned Kalu against actions that undermine due process and advised him to seek proper approvals for future projects from relevant local authorities.
The government noted that Governor Otti has consistently followed lawful procedures in facilitating and executing federal projects in Abia State, a practice it said has helped foster cordial relations with the Federal Government.
The statement further alleged that the Deputy Speaker prefers “drama to decorum and due process.”
Ukoha also disclosed that Governor Otti had taken note of Kalu’s reported invitation to join the All Progressives Congress (APC), which he said was either declined or ignored.
“At any rate, now that the Deputy Speaker has, in his own words, ‘shut the door,’ one may advise that he leaves a window open—at the very least for fresh air,” the statement concluded.
