I’m too busy to engage in rift with Nkiruka but… — Kalu

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has distanced himself from alleged campaign of calumny with the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkiriuka Onyejiocha. 

In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu on Tuesday, Kalu said he was too busy with national assignments and would not go on a journey of infamy with anyone.

According to the statement, the allegations were made during a press briefing by one Usman Shuaibu, who claimed to be the national coordinator of the Progressive League of APC Youth Voters, noting that  

It was a false alarm and a deliberate plot to cause disaffection between them.

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Kalu said he shares a healthy relationship with Onyejiocha as a sister and partner in government, and there is no basis for political conflict between them.

According to him he has used every opportunity to seek support for Onyejiocha and asked Abia APC leaders to rally around her even before she became a minister. 

He, however, questions whether there is something Onyejiocha is not telling the public about the legal battle that ended with him securing victory at the Court of Appeal which affirmed his electoral mandate after LP and AA fought tirelessly to upturn it. 

He therefore advised that they should both focus on their duties rather than engaging in vituperations and invectives or subterfuge that encourages youths to occupy the National Assembly because he was not sacked by the Court. 

According to him, leaders must be shining examples for youths and partners in building Nigeria rather than fighting themselves.

Kalu said he would not succumb to any form of subjugation or cowardice or accept being covertly or overtly distracted from his tasks by anyone calling for his sanction in whatever guise. 

 “But the fact that Onyejiocha has not yet dissociated herself from the press conference leaves a huge worry and casts aspersions on her person as to what manner of a minister would be creating an impression of someone deliberately courting trouble where none exists.

“From what is conceivably right and true Onyejiocha is a sister whose integrity would be brutally assaulted by a group that chooses to drag her name to raising false accusations.