Tension In Abia As Youth Groups Blast Alleged Abandoned Projects Linked To Benjamin Kalu

The Abia-based youth advocacy group, in a statement issued on Sunday through its State Coordinator, Chinedu Nwafor, described the allegations as misleading and politically driven.

According to the group, recent reports questioning the status of a conference and e-learning facility had generated unnecessary controversy due to a lack of proper understanding of the project’s implementation stage and processes.

It argued that attempts to label the project as abandoned ignored wider evidence of ongoing infrastructural and educational interventions facilitated by Kalu across Bende Federal Constituency.

The group maintained that Kalu remains one of the most visible federal lawmakers from Abia State, particularly in areas such as youth empowerment, education, infrastructure, healthcare support, and constituency development.

It further stressed the need for public commentary on constituency projects to be based on verification, fairness, and awareness of project timelines, rather than assumptions that could mislead the public.

“The growing trend of describing incomplete project sites as abandoned without considering procurement procedures, execution stages, and possible administrative adjustments is misleading and unfair,” the statement read.

APYF noted that several interventions attributed to Kalu across communities in Abia remain visible and beneficial to residents, including projects in education, roads, and empowerment programmes.

The group said the Deputy Speaker has consistently shown commitment to effective representation since assuming office, particularly through initiatives aimed at improving education and expanding opportunities for young people.

It also cautioned against interpreting project adjustments or relocations as evidence of fraud or mismanagement without confirmation from relevant oversight agencies.

According to the organisation, public officials should be held accountable through proper institutional mechanisms rather than social media narratives that could distort facts and erode public trust.

“The people of Bende Federal Constituency are not unaware of ongoing developments in their communities. We have seen scholarships, youth programmes, infrastructure projects, and other interventions facilitated through the office of the Deputy Speaker,” the statement added.

It noted that reducing a broader record of constituency representation to unverified allegations was unfair and did not reflect realities on the ground.

While affirming the importance of civic scrutiny in governance, the group urged that such scrutiny must remain evidence-based to avoid damaging reputations through unfounded claims.