Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has called on the South East to align fully with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda in order to attract more federal attention and developmental benefits.
Speaking in Umuahia on Thursday during the unveiling of the Renewed Hope Partners (RHP), a political mobilization group aimed at supporting President Tinubu’s 2027 re-election, Kalu stressed that the time had come for the region to take a firm stand with the central government.
“The time for token support has passed. We must align decisively with the centre to transform national gains into regional progress,” Kalu said.
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He highlighted several achievements of the Tinubu administration in its first two years, including $50.8 billion in proposed investments, ₦9.1 trillion in revenue generation in the first half of 2024, and $23.4 billion in foreign remittances. He also noted the success of the CNG initiative, which is expected to save ₦2 trillion monthly in fuel imports.
Kalu announced that the RHP will establish Renewed Hope Councils in every local government area of the South East, linked to the South East Development Commission (SEDC), to drive grassroots implementation of federal policies and projects.
He listed the recommencement of the Port Harcourt–Maiduguri rail corridor, set to unlock ₦50 billion in trade annually, and the SEDC’s partnership with the UNDP for a regional masterplan as key indicators of federal commitment to the region.
The Deputy Speaker further appealed to the Federal Government to prioritize critical infrastructure in the region, including construction of gas pipelines, dredging of the Onitsha River, and expansion of Onne port and energy plants in Imo State.
Kalu expressed optimism that with unity and active political participation, the South East would benefit more and play a leading role in shaping Nigeria’s development.
