Abia Youths Fume Over Claims Of Abandoned Project Against Benjamin Kalu

Abia Progressive Youth Frontier (APYF) has dismissed allegations that a constituency project linked to the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, was abandoned.

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Naija News reports that the youth Abia State-based advocacy organisation, in a statement issued on Sunday through its state coordinator, Chinedu Nwafor, described the claims as misleading and politically motivated.

The group said recent reports questioning the implementation of a conference and e-learning facility attracted unnecessary controversy without a proper understanding of the project’s status and execution process.

According to the organisation, any attempts to portray the project as abandoned ignored the broader record of infrastructural and educational interventions facilitated by Kalu across Bende federal constituency.

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

The youth organisation said it was important for public commentary on constituency projects to be guided by fairness, verification, and an understanding of implementation timelines rather than assumptions that could create public distrust.

The statement read, “We consider it necessary to caution against the growing trend where incomplete project sites are hastily labelled abandoned projects without considering procurement processes, execution phases, and administrative adjustments that may occur during implementation.”

The group noted that Kalu’s interventions in Abia communities have remained visible and verifiable, stressing that several educational, road, and empowerment projects linked to the lawmaker are already benefiting residents across the constituency.

According to APYF, the deputy speaker has consistently demonstrated commitment to effective representation since assuming office, especially through projects targeted at improving learning conditions and expanding opportunities for young people.

The organisation also said that the relocation of project components or adjustments to the implementation structure should not automatically be interpreted as fraud or the diversion of public funds without concrete evidence from regulatory authorities.

It further noted that public office holders should be held accountable through credible institutional processes rather than through social media sensationalism, which can distort facts and undermine public confidence.

The statement added, “The people of Bende federal constituency are not disconnected from developments within their communities. We have seen projects, interventions, scholarships, youth programmes, and strategic investments facilitated through the office of the deputy speaker.

“To reduce an entire record of representation to allegations driven largely by assumptions does not reflect the realities on ground.”

The organisation said that while civic scrutiny of public projects remains important in a democratic society, such scrutiny must also avoid creating false impressions that can damage reputations without verified findings.