06/10/2025
Gov Otti Declares 'War' on Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, Labels Him a "Traitor" and "Liar" |
UMUAHIA – October 6, 2025 – The Abia State Government has launched a scathing attack on the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, accusing him of “deceit, betrayal, and arrogance” and declaring him unfit for leadership.
The declaration was contained in a strongly-worded press release signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ferdinand Ekeoma, on Monday.
The government’s statement paints a damning portrait of the Deputy Speaker, describing him as a “known traitor, liar, serial betrayer, and an arrogant man driven by uncontrollable pride.”
At the heart of the allegations is Kalu’s relationship with Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the former Governor of Abia State. The state government claims Senator Kalu was the primary architect of Benjamin Kalu’s political career, having “mentored him, financed him, and even provided the flight ticket that took him abroad.”
The press release details a significant financial transaction, alleging that Senator Kalu gifted his protégé 25% of the shares in Bende Export Limited, a company he wholly owned. The government claims that Benjamin Kalu subsequently “squandered the entire investment, leaving his benefactor with nothing.”
Despite this initial setback, the statement says Senator Kalu, in a display of “characteristic magnanimity,” later supported Benjamin Kalu’s political ambitions, helping him secure the House of Representatives seat for Bende Federal Constituency “even against his own brother from Igbere.”
The government alleges that this kindness was again repaid with betrayal, accusing the Deputy Speaker of “turning against the very man who built him.” The press release further claims that Benjamin Kalu has continued this “shameful pattern” by “gossiping and maligning Senator Orji Uzor Kalu before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
In a bid to lend credibility to its claims, the statement notes that the current Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, who was Senator Kalu’s banker at the time, is “well aware of the transactions that demonstrate how Orji Uzor Kalu empowered Benjamin Kalu.”
The Abia State Government concluded that leadership demands “humility, loyalty, and integrity,” qualities it asserts Benjamin Kalu lacks. It vowed to remain focused on “transparent leadership” and not be distracted by individuals whose “political survival depends on lies, betrayal, and deceit.”
As of the time of filing this report, the office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives has not issued an official response to these grave allegations.
The press statement is reproduced in full below
PRESS RELEASE
The attention of the Abia State Government has been drawn to recent utterances and conduct of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. It has become necessary to address his growing pattern of deceit, betrayal, and arrogance, which continue to raise questions about his moral integrity and suitability for leadership.
Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu is a known traitor, liar, serial betrayer, and an arrogant man driven by uncontrollable pride. His political journey has been marked by acts of disloyalty and ingratitude towards those who helped shape his path.
It is on record that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, former Governor of Abia State and current Senator representing Abia North, played a major role in Benjamin Kalu’s rise to prominence; mentoring him, financing him, and even providing the flight ticket that took him abroad. Senator Kalu, out of goodwill, gave Benjamin Kalu 25% of his shares in Bende Export Limited, despite owning 100% of the company. Sadly, Benjamin Kalu squandered the entire investment, leaving his benefactor with nothing.
Even after that disappointment, Senator Kalu, in his characteristic magnanimity, stood by him once again by supporting his political ambitions and helping him secure the House of Representatives seat, even against his own brother from Igbere. Unfortunately, Benjamin Kalu repaid that kindness with betrayal, turning against the very man who built him.
It is regrettable that he has continued this shameful pattern by gossiping and maligning Senator Orji Uzor Kalu before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, forgetting the hands that once lifted him. Such behaviour exposes him as untrustworthy and unfit to speak about governance or to aspire to lead Abia State.
Governor Alex Otti, who was Senator Kalu’s banker at the time, is well aware of the transactions that demonstrate how Orji Uzor Kalu empowered Benjamin Kalu financially and politically.
The Abia State Government wishes to remind the public that leadership demands humility, loyalty, and integrity; qualities Benjamin Kalu lacks. His arrogance and unbridled pride have become his trademark, making him unfit to represent the collective interests of the Abia people.
Abia deserves better. The Government remains focused on transparent leadership and the delivery of good governance, and will not be distracted by individuals whose political survival depends on lies, betrayal, and deceit.
Signed:
Ferdinand Ekeoma
Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity
Abia State Government
October 6, 2025
