Kalu distances self from alleged campaign of calumny against Minister

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu has distance himself from alleged campaign of calumny against the Minister of State for Labour and employment, Mrs Nkiruka Onyejiocha.

This is contained in a statement by Mr Levinus Nwabughiogu, the Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Reps in Abuja.

He said one Usman Shuaibu who claimed to be the national coordinator of Progressive League of APC Youth Voters spewed allegations of campaign of calumny against Onyejiocha by the Deputy Speaker

He said Kalu shared a healthy and robust relationship with Onyejiocha both as a sister and worthy partner in the government of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

He, however, said that the fact that Onyejiocha had yet to dissociate herself from the press conference left a huge worry.

He added that it casts aspersions on her person as to what manner of minister would be creating an impression of someone deliberately courting trouble where none existed

“From what is conceivably right and true, Onyejiocha is a sister whose integrity would be brutally assaulted by a group that chooses to drag her name to raise false accusations.

He said Onyejioch was a fellow congress member in the 9th National Assembly with Kalu, for starters, except on issues of collective patrimony in Abia State, Kalu does not share a direct political affinity with Onyejiocha so as to be engaged in a feudal struggle.

He said, “Both officials hail from different political constituencies, and so there is no basis for a political war at all.”

He said Kalu’s passion was to engender a new paradigm shift in political leadership, especially as it affects the youth of this country.

Onyejiocha as a minister, functions under the executive arm of government, while Kalu is preoccupied with legislative duties at the National Assembly.

“It then beats an imagination that Kalu from Bende Federal Constituency, preoccupied with a plethora of national engagements, would effortlessly pick up a quarrel with his sister from Isukwuato/Umunneochi Federal Constituency.”

He said the office of the deputy speaker saw this as a false alarm and deliberate plot to cause disaffection between a brother and his lovely sister.”