PISE-P: Kalu Launches “Food for Peace” Initiative, Distributes Food Items 

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has launched the “Food For Peace” initiative.

Held in Bende Local Government Area of Abia State, the launch is consistent with the 8 pillars of the recently unveiled Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), a novel idea initiated by the deputy speaker which canvasses a non-kinetic approach to resolving the security challenges of the southeast.

Subsumed under the agriculture and food security pillar of PISE-P, the event captioned “A Hungry Man is an Angry Man” recognizes the importance of food in the drive for peace in the region hence its quick implementation.

It will be the first step towards implementing the Food for Peace programme.

The launch witnessed the distribution of food items across the 17 local government areas of Abia State and other areas in the region.

The details showed that over 6000 bags of rice, 150 bags of beans, 80 bags of garri, 3000 cartoons of spaghetti, 100 cartoons of vegetable oil and 3000 pieces of wrappers were distributed to each of the LGAs.

The launch also featured the distribution of motorcycles, deep freezers, sewing and grinding machines, big-capacity generators and pesticide sprinkling kits.

Others were several pieces of wrapper, sleeping mats, blankets, mosquito nets, and children’s clothes.

Kalu before the distribution of the items, met with the State coordinators and emphasized the need for peace.

He told the people that in the weeks ahead, PISE-P will unveil other phases of the programme which included infrastructural developments to sufficiently better the lots of the citizenry.

 

Peace and unity

The deputy speaker also solicited support for the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led federal government, stressing that the southeast stood a chance to benefit immensely.

He said: “It is time for unity, it is time for peace. That is the only way we can rebuild our region: Peace and unity.
Our hard work will only pay when we do it in peace and unity. It is a new dawn for the South East. The sense of belonging and importance that you need, this is the time to have it.

“Preach the good news for people to draw closer to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. He means well for Ndi Igbo. He has shown us love by appointing the Chief of Naval Staff, an Igbo man to take care of Nigeria’s economy that is dependent on oil and gas. Yes, the security of oil and gas is handled by the Navy and he gave it to an Igbo Man, saying to Igbos, take care of the economy of Nigeria. If he has that confidence in Ndi Igbo to say that the oil and gas infrastructure should be protected by an Igbo, I can assure you that all is well with Ndi Igbo.

“If he will also insist on your son to be the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and for another to be Minister of Works, then, he means well.

“Let us drum support for him. Let us draw closer to the centre of leadership by supporting the President. Let us send the message across. Let us all be advocates of peace. It is only when the region is calm that our longing for the release of our brother can take place.

“How are we playing the ball in our court now they have passed it to us? The only way we can play it back is to encourage peace to spring up around Abia State and the southeastern zone.

“It is this particular project that has lobbied for the passage of the South East Development Commission Bill that failed in the 8th and 9th Assembly. We lobbied the members of the national assembly and said, please, see the reason for this bill and all of them said yes to the South East Development Commission. If that is not a great achievement for peace in the Southeast, I wonder what it is.

“The funds that will be used to buy arms and ammunition to fight in the Southeast will be put in the development commission to create jobs for your children, build those roads that we are complaining about, build those schools and hospitals and the issue of marginalization will stop”.

Many of the beneficiaries lauded Kalu’s initiative, benevolence and kind gestures, saying that this was unprecedented and would assist them economically.

Acknowledging that peace was important to the zone, they pledged to work assiduously for the total restoration of peace in the southeast.

 

 

 

 

 

Emmanuel Ukoh