The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has said that there were strong efforts being made to secure the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kalu, from detention.
Kalu reiterated the commitment in Abuja on Thursday while meeting with the South-East Legislators Forum made up of lawmakers from five State Houses of Assembly from the South-East region led by the Majority Leader of Ebonyi State House of Assembly, Hon. Kingsley Ikoro, on a courtesy visit to his office.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, the deputy speaker said a lot was being done behind the scene with the appropriate authorities, expressing optimism that the result of the meetings will soon materialise.
The statement quoted Kalu as saying that: “I am fighting for Mazi Nnamdi Kanu to come out. Very soon, it will happen. Please, keep us in your prayers.”
Appreciating the State lawmakers for the visit, Kalu called for unity and synergy amongst the political leaders in the South-East region.
He commended the interest of the lawmakers in the ongoing constitution amendment process, charging them to give their full support to the exercise.
The deputy speaker also urged the legislators to support the newly created South-East Development Commission (SEDC) in realising its objectives.
He also called for support for the administration of President Bola Tinubu, stressing that the government means well for Ndi Igbo and Nigerians in general.
“The power of networking is more than money. Unity is power. We hardly recognize our own and we lose a lot of things because of it. We need to end the sit-at-home, people are destroying themselves. We need to come to together. The power of unity, the power of growth is important.
“I want to also commend you for leaving your various Houses of Assembly to come to the Federal House for exposure. It will help you. The benefits are many. It will make your legislative activities to be robust. It will help you to speak from the point of knowledge.
“I also want to thank you for showing interest in the Constitution amendment. We can’t do it alone. I am sure when you sell the issues coming from the federal to the people, they will embrace it.
“On the proposed zonal public hearing, we will want you to support what we are doing in the process of amending the Constitution. We are thinking of starting in first and second quarter of next year.
“As members of the South East legislative forum, you need to be strong and have a common legislative agenda. Birth an idea and think of how we can utilize it.
“And that is why I want you to support the SEDC. Some people have said that the President said he wasn’t going to do it. They abandoned the 3Rs. Let’s support the president. We will build capacity.
“We will have a regional town hall meeting for all members to sit and discuss what we will do. One of the things that is paramount is security. Let’s develop agriculture, infrastructure, energy, technology amongst others,” the deputy speaker stated.
Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the delegation, Hon. Kingsley Ikorohim, said that they came to pay a solidarity visit and pledge their homage to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives as the political leader of the South-East region.