The Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Mr. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has announced accelerated scholarship awards to three indigenes of Itumbauzo in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State.
Mr Kalu who represents the constituency in the national assembly made the announcement while giving his remarks during his visit to Itumbauzo Ward on Monday.
A statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu stated that the the beneficiaries of the scholarships are 17 year old Junior Secondary School (JSS 3) Testimony Evan; 16 year old Senior Secondary School (SSS 1) Chidubem Ikechukwu and little James Nkechi who were among those that received him on his arrival the Ward.
The three girls are to enjoy the scholarships up to the university level.
The Deputy Speaker also promised to foot the hospital bills of the sick people and others living with disabilities in the Ward.
He expressed his appreciation to the people for throwing their weight behind him in the 2023 general elections that saw to his reelection as a member of the national parliament.
The Deputy Speaker also received into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) 61 persons amongst whom is a Professor of Physics Education from the University of Calabar, Professor Mathias Iroha Kalu who said they vested interest in the party because of Kalu’s leadership style and effective representation.
He thanked them for not participating in the anti government protest, reminding the people of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s kind gestures to Igbo people exemplified in the signing into law of the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill.
He said the commission would create jobs for the people and also give a facelift to the region.
Kalu who distributed bags of rice and fertilizers with cash gifts to the people urged them to continue to support the APC government to do more for them.
It would be recalled that the deputy speaker on Saturday commenced the tour of the 13 electoral wards in his constituency to show gratitude to the people and to do another phase of their needs analysis.
He has so far covered 5 of the electoral wards spanning Item Ward A, B and C and Ugwueke/Eziukwu Wards with 8 more to go.
The Deputy Speaker Mr. Benjamin Kalu also during his activities in Abia received a total of 86 constituents belonging to other political parties, who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The constituents were hitherto members of the ruling Labour Party (LP) in the State, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Young Progressives Party (PDP) in Ugwueke/Ezeukwu Ward in Bende Federal Constituency of Abia which Kalu represents in the National Assembly.
Receiving the decampees into APC during his visit to the Ward to express his gratitude to the constituents for their vote and support in the last 2023 general elections, the deputy speaker commended them for their decision to join the ruling party at the center.
He said that APC under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has healed the wounds of the people of the south east sustained during the civil war by signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law 54 years after.
Kalu assured that the Commission will create jobs and provide the infrastructural needs of the people in the region.
He said:“What you have come to do today is to show that APC is working for the people. This party represents progress. It is time for progress. This is to say that you appreciate what APC is doing. The president has answered our prayers and gave us SEDC. You now have SEDC. Your children will get jobs there.”
Kalu charged the people to keep supporting President Tinubu, saying that he means well for the nation.
He also distributed some bags of rice and fertilizers to support the people in agriculture as well as some cash donations to support them economically.
Upon his arrival earlier, the deputy speaker and his entourage were received by the former minority leader of Abia State House of Assembly, Chijioke Chukwu, the Ugwueke Traditional Rulers Council, the women and youth associations who gave them a rousing welcome to the Ward.
