Bende Youths Fault Ikwuisii Traditional Rulers Over Endorsement Of Deputy Speaker Kalu, Warns Against Partisanship

Bende Youths Frontiers, BYF, have condemned the endorsement of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, for a third term by some traditional rulers from the Ikwuisii bloc of Bende Federal Constituency.

In a statement issued on Thursday, BYF described the action as a breach of the expected neutrality of royal fathers, warning that it could further deepen the already fractured political atmosphere in Bende.

The group said traditional rulers, by virtue of their position as fathers to all, are expected to stay above partisan politics and serve as custodians of peace and unity.

“The position of royal fathers should have been a neutral one. By endorsing a particular aspirant for 2027, our traditional rulers have inadvertently dragged the throne into partisan politics,” BYF stated.

The group argued that such open endorsements undermine the confidence of other political actors and constituents who look up to the traditional institution for fairness and guidance.

BYF also condemned the outright dismissal by the royal fathers of the alleged 2019 political agreement on power rotation within Bende Federal Constituency.

According to the group, disregarding the agreement in public, without proper consultation and reconciliation, risks widening divisions among the blocs in the constituency.

“The alleged 2019 agreement, whether written or verbal, formed part of the understanding that has kept relative peace in Bende. To dismiss it outright without dialogue is to pour fuel on an already tense political environment,” the statement added.

Recall that traditional rulers form the Ikwuisii bloc of Bende Federal Constituency on Wednesday endorsed the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu, for a third teem.

The endorsement was announced by Eze Okorie during a meeting with the Deputy Speaker.

The coalition urged the Ikwuisii traditional rulers and other stakeholders to withdraw from partisan declarations and instead play the role of mediators to ensure a peaceful and credible process ahead of the 2027 elections.

BYF called on all political leaders in Bende to prioritize dialogue, respect existing understandings, and avoid actions capable of heating up the polity.

“Leadership is about building bridges, not walls. Bende needs unity now more than endorsements that divide us,” BYF said.

The coalition pledged to continue to monitor political developments in the constituency and engage stakeholders to promote equity, justice and peaceful coexistence.