Politics

Benjamin Kalu: OUK is the Real Betrayer, Liar

Published

12 months ago

October 7, 2025

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Political Persecution Against Igbo Leaders

Benjamin Kalu: OUK is the Real Betrayer, Liar

Once again, Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK), the senator representing Abia North has chosen to travel the ridiculous route of infamy, spewing lies and hatred against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu. This time, he is cashing in on the face-off between Ben Kalu and the governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti over 2027.

In a piece purportedly written by the Media Advier to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, Ferdinand Ekeoma but laden with his imprints, OUK tagged Ben Kalu a serial betrayer just to cast aspersions and portray him in bad light. This is rather unfortunate. I am not perturbed because that’s OUK’s stock in trade. It’s so familiar to everyone who knows him. Just as expected, Ekeoma has denied the press statement.

But in defence of Benjamin Okezie Kalu, I am compelled to make this clarification which will take me into memory lane to let the world know who the real betrayer is.

For once, let’s shout it to the mountain tops that Benjamin Kalu’s political profile is OUK’s greatest hurt. And so, at every turn, the Senator hurls darts at him, deriding him with choreographed story of betrayal. If he has any iota of truth in his story, let him activate the relevant laws against the Deputy Speaker but he can’t because the consequences will be great for him.

For far too long, I have chosen to be silent amid the barefaced lies peddled by OUK but not any more. I am a witness to what transpired and I hereby present the facts to put an end to this character assassination by OUK.

First, the Senator has never been Benjamin Kalu’s benefactor and never made him to become who he currently is. Let that sink. Perhaps, the first question that will challenge this lie is to ask OUK about Ben Kalu’s loss of 11million Euros during his imprisonment.

At this juncture, I am forced to retell the story of mutuality between OUK and Ben Kalu.

Orji Kalu and Ben Kalu met for the first time outside the country in year 2000. This happened in the presence of Chief Daniel Akwari who is from the same Bende LGA and he is still alive and others. Before this time, the Deputy Speaker was already an employer of labour with over 150 people in diaspora working in his own micro finance bank, major real estate business, ICT firms etc. Besides, he met Ben Kalu as the national chairman of PDP in diaspora with a huge follower-ship under his leadership. At that time Benjamin Kalu was leading the party and the Nigerian nationals. A former cross river state governor as well as the former deputy national chairman of PDP from the south west, Alhaji Shuib Oyedokun will attest to this.

The first picture OUK took with Ben Kalu, in diaspora is still in the archives and can be exhumed and tended as a hardcore evidence to this. And this is why, it amuses me when OUK says he bought air ticket for the Deputy Speaker for the first time. The question now becomes: At what point did he buy his ticket even when it is vividly clear in my head that OUK drove around town in the brand new Grand Jeep Cherokee of the Deputy Speaker and was negotiating to buy one of Ben Kalu’s properties in diaspora.

Benefactor? What makes him Ben Kalu’s benefactor when in the 22 years they worked together, he never gave him a Kobo except N2 million to print posters and campaign materials for OUK, delivered in two cheques by his younger brother Mascot Uzor kalu (the cheques pictures are there for evidence). To recount the dishonesty, OUK later confessed he severally sold the house of reps seat to a lady, PDP candidate in all the elections he participated and this happened after Ben Kalu had spent millions of Naira of personal fund to grow his party, the PPA. What wickedness? This is after he sent his younger brother to beg Ben Kalu to run with his party against his intention but to show loyalty, he agreed and again OUK sold the seat. He also made sure he used the PPA chairman to ensure Ben Kalu’s name never saw the light of the day as names submitted to INEC. The evidence is there. The party chairman then who got his instructions is still alive. Now, who is the betrayer?

So, this is why it gives me infantile convulsions to hear OUK say he is Ben Kalu’s benefactor or mentor. This is unfounded. Mentioning flight ticket when Ben Kalu has been the one buying him first class tickets for his over seas trips through his nominated travel agent owned by him and operated by one Madam Shola. Evidence abound if he challenges this.

On business claims, let me state that Benjamin Kalu brought an export business idea to OUK in Abuja on his invitation. This business was supposed to be between Ben Kalu and Mascot but since Mascot who was the best man during Ben Kalu’s wedding in 2005 did not show interest, his elder brother heard of it and invited Ben Kalu. Of course, he accepted the idea but decided to take 75% against all insistence of Ben Kalu to share 50/50%. Ben Kalu accepted, thinking he will invest according to his equity in the business but again he betrayed him, took more and invested less. The picture of the cheque from his company and the amount is still available if OUK contests this. To state the level of the deceit, he insisted that his partner, Ben Kalu as shareholder should report to his MD of Slok, DR Josef from Lebanon but he refused, insisting to report only to the board. His company secretary, a lady is still alive to attest to this if he contests it.

When Ben Kalu eventually raised it with OUK at the board meeting, he invited one of his brothers, a chartered accountant from his home town, Igbere to audit the account from inception. It was later confirmed that the man with 25% had invested more than a man with 75% and that angered OUK. He wanted the chattered accountant to change it and he said, no, it was unprofessional. That’s the deceit and betrayal of OUK, yet this man Ben Kalu will not discuss him publicly while OUK goes about thinking we are not aware.

For emphasis sake, let me also state here that OUK invested N150m while Ben Kalu invested N175m. The stamped audited report of the company is ready to be presented if he contests this.

For the umpteenth time, OUK should be told that the Deputy Speaker built the business over the years to become a multi million euro company in Belgium with branches in France as well. Ben Kalu took him every three months to Belgium for board meetings with all expenses paid by Ben Kalu. He should be told that Ben Kalu has also continued to maintain a calm and gentle demeanor, refusing to tell the world that he lost 11million euros the second week he was imprisoned at Kuje, Abuja prisons because he refused to leave his shares for his wife and children despite several warnings from three banks in Europe financing the businesses. Ben Kalu visited him severally in jail, asking him to replace his name with any of his relatives (wife, son, daughter, brother, mother ) but he refused. Ben Kalu lost a business he took 9 years to build and yet, you will not hear him call OUK out publicly as a betrayer. So who is the benefactor and who is the betrayer now?

I can recall that the bank claimed he was a criminal and can’t work with such a character. His refusal to replace his name led to the banks withdrawing their credits as well as the collapse of the business Ben Kalu built for years. Ask him what he did about it when he left jail And he turns around to claim a business he destroyed with his criminal conviction was squandered? Orji Kalu, where is the 11 million euros of Ben Kalu in the business you destroyed?

Now, among these two, who is the real benefactor here and who is the betrayer here? Please, ask Orji Kalu.

Orji Kalu should be told to stop lying to people because Ben Kalu without his input has built the remnant of the business in another African country to a multi million dollar company without any penny from him before joining politics, which is still prospering. He does not know any thing about the business. He was only invited but decided to take it over to destroy it.

Is it in politics that Orji Kalu played the benefactor role? I recall he was unequivocal when he told Ben Kalu to his face that he masterminded all his electoral woes, accepted entering into agreement with Ben Kalu’s opposition yet claiming to be working with him during elections. That’s the real betrayer. Two sets of elections and in all, he confessed selling it to a female candidate of another party. That’s the betrayer.

Simply put, Orji Kalu severally betrayed Ben Kalu because he never wanted him to join politics or to grow. Let him challenge this and I will show the world how he has always worked for Labour Party, yet claiming to be a member of APC.

He made his choice of who to support for presidency. Ben Kalu chose President Tinubu and this annoyed him the more. He felt betrayed that he refused to choose his candidate for presidential primaries and why should Ben Kalu be marketing President Tinubu under the National Assembly Tinubu Ambassadors. He betrayed him for refusing to betray Tinubu. If that’s the betrayal, then Ben Kalu will betray him again. Ben Kalu does not give President void votes, does not play APC in the morning and Labour Party at night. Unlike OUK, Ben Kalu’s position at all times and in all matters are known and clear. You know where he stands and you can take it to the bank. You can’t say that about OUK.

Factly, OUK didn’t want Ben Kalu to go for deputy speakership because of his Senate President ambition. It pained him that all his efforts to stop Ben Kalu from the primaries to general elections failed woefully. How will a man who willfully frustrated your political growth at the constituency level be happy seeing you run and become the Deputy Speaker? But this is what OUK serves the world as betrayal to the extent of accusing Benjamin Kalu of infidelity, and then, clandestinely sponsoring media attacks to damage his image and calling him unprintable names? He has started again but this time we will show the world who truly he is .

Truth the told, the Senators never wanted OUK as the President of the Senate. Of course, it is obvious he lacks the charisma, the education, the intellectual wherewithal, the technical competences, the political sagacity and the trust worthiness to occupy such a high office in the land. But reverse is completely the case when it comes to Ben Kalu. He has all it takes to be deputy speaker and more. He can be trusted but any one making OUK Senate President is signing his impeachment ahead of time. And the best of them all is the love his colleagues have for Ben Kalu and that was the reason he was unanimously elected unopposed into office as the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives.

He bragged before the traditional rulers in Bende that if Ben Kalu fails to come and bow down before him for the 2023 elections, he will ensure he fails but Ben Kalu called his bluff and won his elections which was announced before his. That remains one of his pains. He felt demystified at all points and when he failed to stop Ben Kalu as Deputy Speaker, he cried like a baby in senate, that Nigeria has not been fair to him because Nigeria chose the best in a young dynamic man and left the deceit in a chronic betrayer like him.

The world should ask Orji Kalu to state when he has given a penny to Ben Kalu, contract as a governor or project as a principal officer of the senate. The deputy speaker is the one giving to him. Who then is the benefactor? The Deputy Speaker became a Local government chairman as a compensation for growing the party in 2003. It was a settlement for stepping down for the House of Reps office, still OUK fought him as a LGA chairman with his usual deceit. Ask Bende people about the story.

The world should know that Orji Kalu’s frustration is beyond business and politics. If he pushes further, we will unearth it. He hates Benjamin Kalu for failing to do his bidding, for being a man of grace and favour. It’s high time he allowed the innocent young man who is doing Nigeria proud to be. Orji Uzor Kalu is not God. He is rather the serial liar and betrayer.

As for Gov Alex Otti, Ben Kalu never had any contact with Alex Otti or anyone from his bank in the course of his business with Orji Kalu. I doubt it there was any reason to meet him.

It was later that his law firm was retained by Access Bank and it was not through Alex Otti. The company secretary of the Access Bank did it not Otti. So, attacking him personally is a weak response to his constructive criticism. Instead of addressing the issues, you are throwing in OUK awful relationship with Ben Kalu. The deputy speaker still insists on more transparency you promised Abians and accountability. You should do more than embarking on media attacks against your critics.

Nwachukwu is a public affairs analyst from Umuahia

Economy

Umahi has Worked More than Obi for Southeast, Says Francis

Published

15 hours ago

October 2, 2026

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Umahi has Worked More than Obi for Southeast, Says Francis

Valentine Obienyem in his article titled “Dave Umahi and Incestuous Reasoning” praises Peter Obi as a model while offering no proof of what he delivered for Ebonyians or Ndigbo. That is the arithmetic of selective inclusion: Obi receives the credit for emptiness; Umahi receives the insults for the result delivered.
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Beneath the rhetoric is a simple question he has refused to answer: What did Obi do for Ebonyians and the wider Igbo community that makes him the standard by which Umahi must be judged, or the candidate they should be expected to support?

However, I agree with some of his comments, especially when he said that Obi happened by circumstances. I feel this is truly the finger of God speaking through him. If not, what else could anyone say the phenomenon around Obi was about, if not the accident of EndSARS?

There is a saying that if one does not know where to place his hand, he holds his knees. That is exactly what happened with Obi and Obidients.

Now, the masses have seen what they consider the emptiness in all the struggles, the fake life, the false, the emptiness of promises and the contradictions in many of his speeches. The anger is that the truth is now becoming visible to many, and the rejection of Obi by those who have seen the light of day is becoming clearer. I understand his pain.

Obienyem begins by protesting that the Obidients do not attack people merely for opposing Peter Obi. But why make that defence unless the charge has a basis? His own words confirm the very conduct he tries to excuse. Attacks happen, he says, when they decide who to attack.

In other words, Obi’s supporters decide which disagreement deserves punishment. What a distasteful confirmation. A group that cannot tolerate opposition without branding its critics enemies of reason is not above reproach; it is simply a political attack dog. We are pleased to get your confirmation.

For clarification, let me mention and confirm that what Umahi said was that Ebonyi State would not vote for Peter Obi because he would not win. This does not exclude Ebonyi State from the Southeast.

He was particular about Ebonyi State because he was addressing Ebonyians at the time of his visit to the state, especially concerning the treatment meted out to Ebonyians living in Anambra State and the discrimination against them during Obi’s tenure as Governor, as well as Obi’s silence when major issues and struggles, such as the renaming of Abakaliki Street, were being discussed.

On several occasions, Umahi has told the people of the Southeast to utilise their votes and not waste them on Obi’s political venture, which will eventually fail. That is his advice and those are the words of wisdom which I equally encourage Obienyem to consider by looking inward, being realistic and possibly towing the same line.

I took time to go through his poorly constructed write-up to see whether he was able to mention Obi’s inclusiveness of Ebonyians in his cabinet or leadership circle. I was disappointed when I discovered that he was only able to mention that some of Obi’s security details were from Ebonyi State. What a disappointment.

It only confirms Umahi’s argument that the people of Ebonyi State were taken for granted, except when it came to security personnel who were naturally posted to serve their country in Anambra State. He could have equally mentioned that they were his house helps, but I understand his pain.

The reality today is that such an arrangement is no longer enough for Ebonyi State. The state has moved forward in pursuit of its own development and is not waiting for him and their ill plots.

Can he confirm whether people from Ebonyi State occupied or held any serious positions in Anambra State during Obi’s tenure as Governor, just as was the case during Umahi’s tenure in Ebonyi State?

Umahi’s record is easier to name.
Anambra-born Charles Emeka Akpuenika served as Ebonyi Commissioner for Youths and Sports. Rose Ezeadikwa served with the State Universal Basic Education Board. Mr. Chinaco Nzeakor was Special Assistant to the Governor on Internal Security. Rev. Euphraim Ononye served as Chairman of the Ebonyi State Pilgrims Board, while Uchem Oka was a Technical Assistant to the Governor.

These were people from Anambra who served in Umahi’s administration during his time as Governor.

That is the contrast Obienyem avoids. He praises Obi’s with anecdotes but does not produce a comparable list of Ebonyians appointed to meaningful roles under Obi.

I also want to agree with him when he said:

“In a breathless rush to make Ebonyi outpace its peers, he (Umahi) engaged in ‘vanity’ projects…”

Those words are correct, but perhaps not in the way he intended them, though with a mix of his attack-dog mentality.

He understands that Umahi was in a hurry to develop Ebonyi State while serving as Governor. Obi, on the other hand, took the opposite approach in Anambra. He can make his own assessment of the consequences, including the argument that funds that could have been used for development were kept idle while the state incurred debts and contractors were issued postdated cheques. All thanks to the leaders who came after him, who have continued to do everything possible to move Anambra forward.

Ibadan-Ijebu Ode

Let me tell him a little about how Umahi transformed Ebonyi State and pursued his aim of moving the state ahead of its peers. Umahi embarked on the construction of 14 twin flyovers at strategic locations, each of which was valued at between ₦1.8 billion and ₦2.5 billion at the time. This is something you should verify for yourself. Today, those same flyovers, if reconstructed at current costs, would cost between N15 billion and N30 billion. Many were achieved through direct labour. This is part of Umahi’s record. This is how he saved money for Ebonyians. This is the development we are talking about.

When he built the David Umahi Federal University of Health Sciences, the same philosophy was applied: achieving major projects with limited resources. Then there is the airport, which is at the stage of recommencing commercial flights. There is the Ebonyi State International Shopping Mall. There is the introduction of concrete roads across Ebonyi State, which has helped reduce the burden of road reconstruction on the current administration. These are just a few examples.

It does not appear that he did enough research before writing about Umahi. He need to go back and verify these things before attempting to speak about his record.

Yes, I remember that he earlier classified the Obidients as “attack dogs.” That was an interesting read.

In the Southeast, he should also acknowledge what Umahi has done through the instrumentality of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, particularly in the transformation of federal roads across the region. He is focused on deliberately connecting the Southeast to the Centre.

I am certain that it gives him some satisfaction when travelling from Enugu to Onitsha, both at night and during the day, and see the solar lights, the tree planting, the reinforced concrete pavement and the CCTV infrastructure underway. Yet he chose not to mention these in his write-up. Why?

The Enugu-Port Harcourt Road, the Eke-Obinagu Flyover, the access roads to the Second Niger Bridge, the repair and reconstruction of the First Niger Bridge and, very importantly, the Calabar-Ebonyi-Enugu-Benue-Nasarawa-Abuja Superhighway are all part of the infrastructure transformation currently taking place in Igboland courtesy of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu through Umahi. These are tangible projects. They are visible. They are projects people can see, feel and touch.

So, the question remains: What has Obi done for the people of the Southeast that should make them abandon what they are seeing and experiencing for something they have not seen? What has he done that is comparable to the visible and tangible infrastructure now being delivered in the region? That is the question he should answer.

David Umahi has served as Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Governor of Ebonyi State, Chairman of the South-East Governors’ Forum, Senator representing Ebonyi South and, today, Nigeria’s Minister of Works.

Peter Obi’s principal record in elected office is his tenure as Governor of Anambra State, he is not close to the breadth of Umahi’s political and public-service experience and result, particularly with Umahi now responsible for Nigeria’s works portfolio.

The references to Umahi’s family and to Mary Habila’s death do not provide the needed answers to the question asked.

Habila’s death has been publicly discussed, and her parents also spoke about her health condition while she was alive. It should not be turned into a political prop.

By using such words as “Judas,” “mad dog,” “crude” and “nonsense,” Obienyem has confirmed himself as an attack dog. Those are not arguments; they are personal attacks. What a distasteful confirmation.

The comparison remains clear. Umahi has demonstrated an approach to public service that has included people from different parts of the Southeast, infrastructure development in Ebonyi, regional leadership through the Southeast Governors’ Forum, representation in the Senate and, now, responsibility for a federal ministry whose projects reach across the Southeast and the country.

Obi offers a security detail, a palliative tour and private anecdotes, then asks the public to accept him as a champion. What a joke.

That is not enough. What has Obi done for the people of the Southeast to warrant support for him over President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose administration’s projects are visible across the region and whose public record is open to examination? Where are the durable, region-wide results? Where are the institutions and projects that demonstrate his impact across Igboland?

Umahi’s advice to Ebonyians is a political judgment and a call to use their votes according to their own interests and for the benefit of the people of the Southeast.

Ebonyi people have risen and are committed to President Tinubu through Umahi.

Francis Nwaze, FIPMD
Senior Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of Works (Media)
Southeast Zonal Coordinator, New Media
2027 Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council.
Eereporter.com

Politics

Obi Vows for Transparency, not to Spend Vacation Abroad if Elected in 2027

Published

2 days ago

October 1, 2026

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Obi Vows for Transparency, not to Spend Vacation Abroad if Elected in 2027

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has vowed not to spend his holidays outside Nigeria if elected President in the 2027 general elections.
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Obi made the pledge in his Independence Day address delivered in Abuja on Thursday, saying he would use his four-year tenure to travel across the country, interact with Nigerians and better understand their challenges.

He said, “As I have always done, I will lead by example. In four years as President of this great nation, I will not spend my holidays outside Nigeria. My holidays will be spent in Zamfara State; Borno State; Kwara State; Ebonyi State; Edo State; Ekiti State and other Nigerian States.

“I want to continue to see Nigeria. I want to know Nigeria. I want to spend time with Nigerians, listen to them, understand their challenges and celebrate their resilience.”

The former Anambra governor also promised that his administration would make governance measurable and accountable, with emphasis on the welfare and productivity of Nigerians.

“As President of Nigeria, I will make governance measurable, accountable and centred on the welfare and productivity of our people. Within the first year, Nigerians will begin to see the tangible impact of purposeful and effective leadership,” he said.

The former Anambra State governor pledged to tackle insecurity, saying farmers would be able to return to their farms while children would return to school and businesses would operate without fear.

He said, “We will confront insecurity decisively so that our farmers can return to their farms, our children can return to school, businesses can operate freely, and families can live without fear.

“No Nigerian should be forced to live in an IDP camp because his or her government has failed to provide security.”

Obi, who said Independence anniversaries should provide opportunities for national reflection, criticised the APC-led administration, arguing that the country had continued to face serious challenges despite the promises made in 2023.

He said Nigeria was grappling with widespread poverty, a large population of out-of-school children and persistent insecurity caused by terrorism, banditry and kidnapping.

“Despite the enormous promises made by the APC-led government in 2023, our nation continues to face deepening challenges across virtually every critical sector of national life,” he said.

The NDC presidential candidate also recounted his recent visit to Sokoto State with his running mate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, where they held consultations on insecurity, poverty, unemployment, drug abuse and out-of-school children.

He said their visit to an Internally Displaced Persons camp in Ramin Kura, within Sokoto metropolis, exposed the hardship faced by thousands of displaced women and children.

“Instead, they live as displaced persons in their own country. What we saw in Ramin Kura is not an isolated story. It is a reflection of the suffering experienced, in different forms, across many parts of Nigeria.

“And yet, while ordinary Nigerians struggle with these realities, this present government often behaves as though these problems belong to another country.

“The political leaders have failed our country and, most importantly, we have failed our children. This must change,” Obi said.

The pledge comes one month after Obi criticised the practice of past and current presidents spending their holidays abroad, saying an elected president should remain in the country and use such periods to engage directly with citizens.

The former Anambra governor said he would mandate domestic vacations for the President if elected, arguing that the country’s leader should use the opportunity to visit areas facing serious security and developmental challenges.

“Nigeria’s President must spend his vacation in Nigeria. We cannot continue with this nonsense. Where do other countries’ own send their vacation?” Obi questioned.

Peter Obip

“The President should go to Zamfara, to Borno, to Anambra, to anywhere. As President of Nigeria, I will visit other countries, but I will not take my holidays there”.

When asked about the security implications of spending vacation time in states affected by insurgency and banditry, particularly Borno, Obi maintained that the President should not use security concerns as a reason to leave Nigeria during holidays.

He also drew a comparison with political leaders in other countries, arguing that the conduct of a Nigerian president should similarly reflect a strong connection with the country and its people.
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Politics

NPF, NVMA Sets to Strengthen Partnership for Public Safety

Published

3 days ago

September 30, 2026

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NPF, NVMA Sets to Strengthen Partnership for Public Safety

Today 29th September 2026, at the Force Headquarters, Abuja, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, received a delegation of the Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association (NVMA), led by its President, Dr Moses Arokoyo.
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The conversation was about how the veterinary profession and the Nigeria Police Force can work more closely together. Here is what came out of it:

Stronger ties between the Police Veterinary Services and the NVMA

Professional input from the Association to improve Police veterinary facilities and support our Canine units and Mounted Troops