Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene in the alleged demolition of houses and offices belonging to South Easterners in Lagos State.
Kalu made the appeal on Friday at the Enyimba International Stadium, Aba, during a reception in honour of the president following the inauguration of several projects in Abia State.
He urged the president to engage with the Lagos State government to seek an amicable resolution, suggesting that affected residents be allowed to regularize their property documents instead of losing their buildings.
“I also want to say that the destruction and demolition of the houses and offices of our brothers in Lagos make our hearts bleed,” Kalu said. “At this time of hardship, we need amicable solutions rather than destruction.”
The Deputy Speaker also renewed his call for the establishment of a seaport in the South East to boost commerce and economic activities in the region.
“Mr. President, South Easterners are mainly traders, and we need a seaport to enhance our trading. We thank you for what you are doing in our state through our governor and across the South East, but it is about time we had our own seaport,” he said.
Kalu emphasized that effective governance depends on cooperation between federal and state governments, pledging his support for Governor Alex Otti’s administration despite belonging to a different political party.
“Though I am a member of the APC, it is in my character to support my state governor to ensure Abia succeeds. I have toured the state with him today and seen the projects he has executed; for that, we commend him,” he added.
The Deputy Speaker also expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for supporting ongoing infrastructure projects in Abia, urging the state’s Ministry of Information and media outlets to publicly acknowledge the president’s contributions.
According to him, such recognition would motivate the federal government to do even more for Abia State and the South East region.
