MY LETTER TO THE PEOPLE OF BENDE
19th November,2018
#PeopleofBende
Dear people of Bende,
As family and friends you have walked with me from being an aspirant to becoming the candidate of my political Party (APC ) for the office of the House of Representatives, Bende Federal Constituency in the coming 2019 general elections . I am confident that by holding my hand the way you have done through prayers, donations, advice, consultations, guidance, sacrifice, understanding and availability, together we will make a confident , courageous, competent , caring , community man with character , integrity, capacity and love for God and humanity, the next Member of the House of Representatives, for Bende Federal Constituency .
This is not because other candidates are not good but because I am better and Ben Brings the Best. Over the years I have been well cooked for this service and you cannot compare the sweetest most fanciful fast food no matter how fresh, to your mother’s soup . I am your mother’s soup and with me your hunger for what is desired for growth is satisfied. For all the needed ingredient were considered and used in packaging, what Bende is about to taste in good Representation anchored on the people and their communities. I am not a fast food hurriedly made as a quick fix to our many years of hunger.
Bende is the mother, the soup is Ben , as a member of the Bende family either by consanguinity or affinity, you have a role to play, which is to serve this soup ( me) to as many people as possible that have longed for good representation. I am bringing the best taste to governance similar to what I have enjoyed all around the world in my life sojourn. Tell them I don’t only smell nice, I taste good , that I don’t only taste good , I am nutritious for growth . Tell others that there is a space for every one and it will be enough for each and every one of us because I will be available and as regular as a three square meals. Tell others to tell others that the soup is ready to be served and our hunger for a better representation will soon be a thing of the past.
You are the god fathers and god mothers they talked about because I am your son and I belong to all of you just like I have been yours in the last 17 years of being among you. You are my brothers and my sisters because I love you and genuinely wish a better life for you, the reason I have consistently pursued my dreams to make an impact among you and thank God the time has finally come.
I cannot pay for all your time and sacrifices because I am not that rich , may not even be able to compare with the pockets of other aspirants because I have never stolen in any way directly or indirectly from the common wealth of this nation. Guess what ? That does not trouble me because it is not men of the pockets that rule the world but men of ideas . Thank God I am wealthy with ideas sufficient enough to lead not rule my Federal Constituency . Please do not compare me with others in terms of who is capable of buying the constituents private jets during campaigns, plucking the moon from the skies or mining the diamonds for each voter , look beyond the election victory . Rather compare the content of our character, the consistency of our courage , the reliability of our competence, the capacity to represent and most of all our fear for God and love for humanity . I will not fail you in these areas .Victory for me is when we have worked together to over the challenges of our people because that’s what really matters at the end.
My campaign shall be funded not by my self alone or by any single individual for I will not allow that, but by every common man in Bende and outside Bende in support of true democracy , good governance and the importance of equity as a balancing act in the distribution of powers for peaceful cohabitation of brothers . Yes ! Am humble enough to ask for your penny and your Naira , your cents and your dollars to help a good man lead a people desiring quality representation. That way the people will be in control of who represents them . Therefore, feel free to reach out to our campaign team to sponsor a thing or two and we will be grateful for helping our people, because this sincerely speaking is not about Benjamin Kalu or his family it is about the PEOPLE OF BENDE. We shall account for every penny donated to this project and we will not be wasteful and if there is any balance , you will unanimously choose from our list of community projects to invest the excess for the people. it is all about the people.
To the true disciples of democracy, all pro groups, friends of Bende groups etc I am proud of what you have achieved so far in this project from around the world, do not be weary of well doing for in due season you shall reap if you faint not. It shall come from God and others even if not from me , but am sure I will make you proud on the floor of the National Assembly with laws that will make our nation a better place for us.
I am in tune with what is expected of this office ; the legislative functions, the representative functions and the oversight functions and Bende will be proud they sent one of their best as a messenger with a message. ( watch out for my abridged manifesto on our website soon for more specific details ). The lawyer in me trained in the art of legal drafting will be valuable to my legislative duties . On representative duties, You cannot represent those you don’t know, I know my people well , I was born among them and grew up among them , I know their needs and how to present them before the National Assembly . To carry an over sight demands knowledge and experience, this is where my private and public sector experience will play a major role, I know what to expect in any of the assignments to over see the activities of the concerned organisation .
While I thank the effort of my great party , I wish to encourage the teaming members to look beyond the party to embrace good ideas and supports that will help us win. It is only people that will get us to the “next level “ , let’s make this campaign all about the people , all about issues and less about attacking opponents and damaging their character . Character is every thing try to preserve it because on it lies the confidence of the people we want to lead . Yes I am aware that in the bid to sell their candidates the supporters of the opponents will cross the line and attempt to cast aspersions on our integrity, do not worry for I have lived among you from childhood till date and am sure most of you can describe me just by my shadow , we know ourselves .
We will give this campaign every force and energy it deserves, we are marching forward with strength equipped by the instrument of equity which cries to the high heavens that our Umunna ( Bende North ) brothers have held this position for 16 years and are now vehemently supporting for their brothers from Ikwuishi ( Bende South) to have it even only for a season . This is the voice of a just balance , for an unjust weight is an abomination unto the lord . Bende is about to be balanced because equity says it is turn by turn ( nmanu akara di uto, onye ratu ibeya aratu kwa), God has turned and turned till it has become our turn . It shall be a peaceful purposeful, issue based campaign. Say no to violence because we were first brothers before we became politicians and we will be brothers after politics .
Thank you and God bless the great people of Item Okpi, the great minds of Igbere, the strength Bende found in Ugwueke Ezeukwu, the courage of the Alayi oke mba, the Ozuitem nde muru nne nnam, the Umuhu Ezechi , the land of my great friends, Uzuakoli the Central city of Bende, home of my allies , Umuimenyi Nkpa, the biggest single ward in Nigeria ( three LGAs in one, the “deciding factor”) , Itumbauzo my next home of dependable people and finally the Ancient town of Bende the land of my birth.
Maka odinma Bende 2019 Join me and I will take you there.
Yours Faithfully,
Benjamin Okezie Kalu
APC Candidate
Bende Federal House of Representatives 2019
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