A youth-based advocacy organisation in Abia State has rejected allegations that a constituency project linked to Benjamin Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, was abandoned, describing the claims as misleading and politically motivated.
The group, Abia Progressive Youth Frontier (APYF), said recent reports questioning the implementation of a conference and e-learning facility attracted unnecessary controversy without proper understanding of the project’s status and execution process.
In a statement issued on Sunday and signed by its state coordinator, Chinedu Nwafor, the organisation said attempts to portray the project as abandoned ignored the broader record of infrastructural and educational interventions facilitated by Kalu across Bende federal constituency.
According to the group, the deputy speaker has remained one of the most visible and impactful federal lawmakers from Abia state, particularly in the areas of youth empowerment, education, infrastructure, healthcare support, and constituency development.
The youth organisation said it was important for public commentary around constituency projects to be guided by fairness, verification, and an understanding of implementation timelines rather than assumptions capable of creating public distrust.
“We consider it necessary to caution against the growing trend where incomplete project sites are hastily labelled abandoned projects without considering procurement processes, execution phases, and administrative adjustments that may occur during implementation,” the statement said.
The group noted that Kalu’s interventions in Abia communities have remained visible and verifiable, adding that several educational, road, and empowerment projects linked to the lawmaker are already benefiting residents across the constituency.
According to APYF, the deputy speaker has consistently demonstrated commitment to effective representation since assuming office, especially through projects targeted at improving learning conditions and expanding opportunities for young people.
The organisation also said the relocation of project components or adjustments in implementation structure should not automatically be interpreted as fraud or diversion of public funds without concrete evidence from regulatory authorities.
It added that public office holders should be held accountable through credible institutional processes rather than social media sensationalism capable of distorting facts and undermining public confidence.
“The people of Bende federal constituency are not disconnected from developments within their communities. We have seen projects, interventions, scholarships, youth programmes, and strategic investments facilitated through the office of the deputy speaker,” Nwafor said.
“To reduce an entire record of representation to allegations driven largely by assumptions does not reflect the realities on ground.”
The group commended Kalu for what it described as responsive leadership and sustained engagement with community needs, noting that many youths in the constituency have benefitted from empowerment schemes, educational support programmes, and skills initiatives associated with his office.
APYF further urged anti-corruption agencies and oversight institutions to continue carrying out their responsibilities professionally and without political pressure, stressing that accountability must remain evidence-based.
The organisation said while civic scrutiny of public projects remains important in a democratic society, such scrutiny must also avoid creating false impressions capable of damaging reputations without verified findings.
According to the group, the deputy speaker’s growing profile within national leadership is tied to his consistency in legislative engagement, constituency outreach, and developmental interventions across Abia State.
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