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Deputy Speaker Delivers Tinubu’s Unity Message To Abia, Urges Ndi Igbo To Invest Votes Wisely
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…say backing South West offers clearest path to Igbo presidency
…present two-year legislative scorecard to elder statesmen, party leaders
By Gloria Ikibah
The Deputy Speaker House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has taken President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s message of unity and reconciliation to key political stakeholders across Abia State, urging leaders of the All Progressives Congress to close ranks and strengthen party cohesion.
Kalu, who represents Bende Federal Constituency, embarked on a series of courtesy visits spanning Abia North, Abia Central and Abia South, as part of efforts to reinforce party structures and align stakeholders with a broader vision of national stability and inclusive governance.
During the tour, he met with former Abia State governor and ex-Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu, in Abia North; held discussions with Senator John Bob Nwannunu in Abia Central; and paid a visit to Sir Mac Wabara, former managing director of the defunct Hallmark Bank and a prominent APC chieftain, in Abia South.
Across the engagements, the focus remained on internal party unity, collaboration among leaders and the need for sustained engagement to strengthen the APC and promote political stability.
Kalu conveyed the President’s call for party leaders at all levels to reach out to one another, set aside internal divisions and work collectively in the interest of a stronger party and a more united nation. He noted that the season offered an opportunity for reflection, reconciliation and renewed commitment to the ideals of unity and inclusion.
Turning to the national political landscape, the Deputy Speaker appealed to the Igbo to approach politics with strategy and pragmatism, emphasising that votes should be invested for long-term gain rather than expended without clear returns.
He argued that the most viable route to the emergence of an Igbo president lies in building strong political alliances, particularly through support for the South West, which he described as the shortest path to trust, inclusion and political reciprocity at the national level.
Kalu reaffirmed his loyalty to the President’s vision, his commitment to party unity and his resolve to advance the interests of the South East within Nigeria’s political framework.
He also presented his two-year legislative scorecard to the elder statesmen and party leaders, inviting open assessment of his performance as part of a broader commitment to accountability, self-evaluation and improved service delivery.
“I believe leadership must be subjected to scrutiny. I presented my two-year scorecard and asked them to honestly assess what I have done so far, so I can do better,” he said
Kalu charged party stakeholders to immediately intensify grassroots mobilization and strategic engagement to ensure a resounding victory for the party in the 2027 general elections.
He declared that the era of merely negotiating for 25 percent votes for the President in Abia State is over, stressing that the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state now has the structure, momentum and political capital to deliver outright victory.
Kalu expressed confidence that with growing grassroots support and renewed unity among stakeholders, Abia APC is fully positioned to win the state convincingly for President Bola Tinubu in future elections.
The Deputy Speaker said: “And in this I want us to remember that this President has shown leadership. The policies were tough but the President was steadfast, courageous in his policies. He defended those policies, stood by them, today we have started benefiting from those policies.
“So, any man who did this is supposed to be praised, and I am happy that it is the government of APC that made this happen. Igbo’s, let us invest our votes. Igbo’s, let us not waste our votes. The time of wasting our votes just to prove a point, sentimental point is gone. What you play politics with is numbers, not how sentimental you were.
“If you carry your vote and dump it where it does not count toward success, you have wasted your opportunity to go to the negotiation table and ask for what you have invested in. Why do we ask for dividends if we have not made any investments? There is no company in this world that will pay you dividends when you have not made any investments. The time of the investment has come, in the next few months we’ll be expected to make investments. Are we going to make investments or are we going to waste investments? The vote we have in our hands is the currency for investments.
“When the time comes, I plead with the Igbo’s let your votes count, not because it is not going to be counted, or because it was given where it would not drive success, know that as it is today, in the political calculation President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is where we will invest our votes and it will count. That’s the truth, let’s keep sentiments aside, let’s forget emotions. He’s from the south, the southern political corridor must stay united, it must be consolidated, so that we will be seen as standing as one.
“Any attempt to use any sentiments to break us, and then the south east will go with a paltry sum of votes, whereas it will swing the way that we don’t want and this thing might go back to where it’s coming from. It’s not what we should encourage as leaders in Igbo land. We should invest our votes. We are investing it because truly these two years that the president has been in office, he has proven that he wants to work with the Igbo’s. He has proven that there is no discrimination in the allocation of projects, in the setting of projects. We may not have it all done at the same time but there is a political will to do the first thing. He’s a listening president, I beg of you let us stand by him, and his current policies.”
The elder statesmen, in their separate remarks, commended the Deputy Speaker for his impressive performance at the National Assembly, describing his interventions and contributions as impactful and people-oriented.
They lauded his decision to present his two-year scorecard for open critique, noting that it reflected transparency, humility and a commitment to effective representation.
They assured him of their continued support and pledged to work collectively to strengthen party structures and mobilize grassroots support to ensure resounding victory for the party at the polls come 2027.
…Abbas pledge collaboration with opposition leaders to advance 10th Assembly’s legislative agenda
By Gloria Ikibah
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, has formally announced the completion of the minority leadership structure in the 10th House following the nomination and endorsement of three lawmakers to fill vacant principal officer positions.
Speaking during plenary, Abbas informed members that the minority caucus had unanimously agreed on the appointments through a consensus arrangement.
According to the Speaker, the nomination was conveyed to the House in line with the decision of minority members of the 10th Assembly.
He said: “The election of the House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria, the minority members of the 10th Assembly hereby unanimously nominate the following members by consensus to fill the vacant positions of the minority in the parliament.”
Announcing the appointments, Abbas stated: “Number one, Minority Leader, Rt. Honourable Frederick Abedi PhD. Number two is the position of Minority Whip, and the person they have endorsed is no other than Honourable Monsur Soro.
He added: “The last but not the least is my brother from the northwest, in person of Rt. Honourable Abdusamadu Dasuki, the position of Deputy Minority Leader.”
Following the announcement, the Speaker congratulated the newly appointed principal officers and expressed confidence in their ability to contribute meaningfully to the work of the House.
He also assured the new opposition leaders of the support of the House leadership as they assume their responsibilities.
“So honourable colleagues, today the body of principal officers is complete, and I want to seize this opportunity on behalf of the whole entire house to congratulate the three people and to wish them all the best in their new positions.
“And let them be assured that the leadership of the house will work with them assiduously in ensuring that we achieve our legislative agenda objectives of this very important 10th Assembly,” Abbas said.
The Speaker wished members well and prayed for continued success in the work of the legislature.
“May God bless you all”, he concluded.
Finally the first set of Nigerians evacuated from South Africa has arrived at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos following renewed xenophobic attacks in the country.
The Air Peace flight carrying the returnees arrived at the airport around 10:25 am on Thursday.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Sola Enikanolaiye, among others, was on hand to welcome the 258 evacuees who were escorted by officials of the Nigerian Mission in South Africa, led by the Acting High Commissioner, Temitope Ajayi.
Addressing the returnees, Enikanolaiye said Nigeria will not stand idly by while its citizens are subjected to attacks and harassment wherever they may be in the world; hence, the swift and necessary action to bring them home.
In a statement following their arrival, the Foreign Affairs Ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, quoted Enikanolaiye as commending the excellent coordination of the process by the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria.
He urged Nigerians in South Africa to remain law-abiding and vigilant and to report any threats to the Nigerian Mission. The minister said that the Federal Government remains fully engaged with the South African authorities at the highest levels to ensure the protection of Nigerian nationals and to address the root causes of these incidents.
The minister conveyed the heartfelt greetings and assurances of President Bola Tinubu to the returning nationals.
“No Nigerian should live in fear simply because of their nationality. The evacuation does not signal defeat; it underscores the proactive and citizen-centred foreign policy of the Tinubu administration,” the statement read in part. “More flights carrying returnees are expected to arrive in the country in the coming days as the evacuation exercise continues.”
The returning nationals are undergoing the process of documentation, profiling, and necessary medical checks and will be provided with temporary accommodation before being reunited with their families, the ministry said.
Anti-foreigner violence has convulsed South Africa for weeks as gangs armed with sticks, whips, and shields have marched through parts of the “rainbow nation”, demanding that people with no residency papers leave by June 30.
Foreign nationals have reported being intimidated and beaten by mobs going door to door, families have been forced from their homes, and many have left in the face of the threats.
Ghana, Mozambique, and Malawi have already repatriated hundreds of their citizens in recent weeks.
South Africa is Africa’s largest economy and hosts more than three million foreigners, just over five per cent of its population, according to the country’s statistics agency.
…Enikanolaiye says rescue mission reflects Tinubu’s commitment to protecting Nigerians abroad
By Gloria Ikibah
The first batch of 258 Nigerians evacuated from South Africa following renewed xenophobic attacks has arrived safely in the country, with the Federal Government describing the operation as a clear demonstration of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to the welfare and protection of Nigerians wherever they reside.
The returnees landed at the International Wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos, on Thursday morning aboard a special Air Peace flight arranged and fully funded by the Federal Government.
The evacuees, who were accompanied by officials of the Nigerian High Commission in Pretoria led by Acting High Commissioner, Ambassador Temitope Alexander Ajayi, were received on behalf of the Federal Government by the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye.
Addressing the returnees, Enikanolaiye conveyed President Tinubu’s message of solidarity and reassurance, stressing that the safety and dignity of Nigerians abroad remain a top priority for the administration.
He said: “The Federal Government of Nigeria will not stand idly by while our citizens are subjected to attacks and harassment, wherever they may be in the world, hence the swift and necessary action to bring our people home.”
The minister noted that the evacuation exercise was coordinated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in partnership with the Nigerian High Commission in South Africa and several government agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, the Ministry of Aviation, Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria Immigration Service and security agencies.
According to the ministry, the operation underscores the government’s determination to protect Nigerians from violence, discrimination and intimidation abroad.
The statement stressed that the evacuation should not be interpreted as a retreat but rather as a proactive intervention aimed at safeguarding citizens caught in a difficult situation.
“No Nigerian should live in fear simply because of their nationality. The evacuation does not signal defeat; it underscores the proactive and citizen-centred foreign policy of the Tinubu administration,” he added.
Enikanolaiye also commended the Nigerian Mission in Pretoria for its role in ensuring the successful evacuation of the affected citizens.
The minister disclosed that Nigeria remains in active diplomatic engagement with South African authorities to address the situation and ensure the safety of Nigerians still residing in the country.
“I commend the excellent coordination of the process by the High Commission of Nigeria in Pretoria and urge all Nigerians in South Africa to remain law-abiding, vigilant, and to report any threats to the Nigerian Mission.
“The Federal Government remains fully engaged with the South African authorities at the highest levels to ensure the protection of Nigerian nationals and to address the root causes of these unfortunate incidents”, he stated.
The returnees are currently undergoing documentation, profiling and medical screening, after which they will receive temporary accommodation and other forms of assistance before being reunited with their families.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said additional evacuation flights are expected in the coming days as efforts continue to bring home Nigerians affected by the attacks.
The ministry also appealed for calm while diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the crisis are intensified.
The latest evacuation follows renewed concerns over xenophobic violence in South Africa, where foreign nationals, including Nigerians, have periodically faced attacks, harassment and threats in recent years.
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