A socio-political group, the Igbo Mandate Movement Group, has accused the Abia State Government of allegedly earmarking over ₦100 billion for a coordinated campaign to demarket the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu.
Naija News reports that the group made the allegation in a statement dated January 6, signed by its convener, Igboeli Arinze, and made available to journalists on Tuesday.
According to the group, the alleged scheme is aimed at preventing Kalu from returning to the House of Representatives in future elections.
The statement claimed that investigations conducted by the group revealed that the funds were set aside for what it described as a “comprehensive demarketing campaign” against the deputy speaker.
It further alleged that the plot was being masterminded by a top official of the Abia State Government and executed in carefully planned phases.
Detailing the alleged phases, the Igbo Mandate Movement Group claimed that the first and second stages of the campaign involve sustained attacks on Kalu through social media and sponsored reports in conventional media outlets.
“These coordinated assaults seek to tarnish the impeccable reputation of a man who has served his people and Nigeria with distinction,” the statement read.
The group further alleged that subsequent phases of the alleged plot would involve lobbying traditional rulers across affected zones.
It claimed that traditional leaders who refuse to cooperate may face intimidation as part of the campaign.
Raising further concern, the group alleged that the final stage of the plot would involve sponsoring violence to provoke supporters of the deputy speaker into retaliation.
According to the group, such violence would then be blamed on Kalu to justify further actions against him.
Questioning the rationale behind the alleged expenditure, the group said the sum could be better deployed to address pressing developmental challenges in Abia State.
“Why is such a humongous sum of money, which could transform the lives of Ndi Abia, being channelled toward fighting one single individual?” the statement asked.
The group described the alleged plan as “sinister, wicked, and antithetical to the progress of our people.”
Warning those allegedly behind the plot, the group said it would not fold its arms while Kalu is undermined.
“No true son or daughter of Igbo land will fold their hands and watch as one of the best things to have emerged from Ala Igbo is rubbished by envy,” it stated.
The group added that Kalu has represented his constituents creditably and brought honour to Igbo land through his leadership position as deputy speaker.
‘Attack On Kalu Is Attack On Ndi Igbo’
The group declared that any move to undermine Kalu goes beyond personal politics.
“Any attempt to pull him down is an attempt to pull down the collective aspirations of Ndi Igbo,” the statement said.
It called on traditional rulers, religious leaders, civil society organisations, and the international community to intervene and prevail on the Abia State Government to abandon what it described as a divisive project.
