“We Must Honor The Truce For The Sake Of Peace” – Bende Stakeholders Urge Ben Kalu To Step Down In 2027

Concerned stakeholders of Bende Federal Constituency have called on Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu to respect a 2019 truce brokered by traditional rulers, saying the House of Representatives seat should now rotate to Umunna Bloc after the completion of two tenures by Ikwu Isii.

In a statement signed by the Concerned Sons and Daughters of Bende and made available to newsmen on Monday, the group warned that any attempt to alter the agreement would jeopardize the peace and unity of Bende.

The stakeholders recalled that in 2019, Bende was on the brink of division between the two major blocks: Ikwu Isii and Umunna.

“In 2019, Bende stood at a crossroads. There was tension, disagreement, and the risk of division between our two great blocks: Ikwu Isii and Umunna,” the statement read.

According to them, traditional rulers intervened to prevent crisis.

“They did not come to take sides. They came to tie the broken rope. After deep deliberation, an agreement was reached for the sake of peace and unity: Ikwu Isii and Umunna shall each have two tenures, eight years each and then support the other for eight years respectively.”

The group said that agreement paved the way for Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu of Ikwu Isii to serve two terms.

“That truce gave Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu from Ikwu Isii the opportunity to represent Bende Federal Constituency for his constitutionally allowed two terms. Today, that eight years has been completed.”

The stakeholders expressed concern over what they described as moves to seek a third term, stating that it directly violates the truce.

“It is therefore with heavy hearts but with hope that we address the current move to seek a third term. This goes directly against the truce that brought peace to Bende. A man who once said in 2019 that ‘three tenures is too much’ cannot now be seen breaking the very agreement that settled his case.”

They warned of dire consequences if the agreement is discarded.

“Whoever tries to alter it is an enemy of the people. If the interest from few individuals of ikwu isii extraction is not watched, the political future of Bende will be doomed and it will only take the intervention of external mediators to remedy it.”

The group said the next turn belongs to Umunna Bloc and endorsed Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso as the candidate prepared to take up the responsibility.

“The turn has come to Umunna. And in Umunna, Dr. Chimaobi Desmond Anyaso has presented himself, a son of the soil, prepared and ready to serve.”

The stakeholders appealed to Kalu and all leaders from Ikwu Isii to prioritize the collective interest of Bende over personal ambition.

“Let us show character. Let us show that Bende is bigger than personal ambition. Let us honor the deep wisdom of our royal fathers.”

“This is not about one man. This is about trust. This is about whether the word of Bende elders still means something. This is about whether our children will inherit a Bende where agreements are kept.”

They concluded with a warning to posterity:

“If we keep this agreement, Bende will thrive more in politics rooted in love. If we break it, we all lose. And history will always remember who the _truce breakers_ were. Let us choose unity. Let us choose honor. Let us choose Bende.”