A prominent Igbo youth organisation, the Youth Renaissance for Good Governance, has strongly rejected allegations made against the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, describing the claims as false and politically motivated.
The group, which said it represents more than 30,000 Igbo youths across Nigeria and in the diaspora, challenged the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) to produce what it described as a “phantom report” allegedly indicting the Deputy Speaker over his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) certificate and records at the Nigerian Law School.
In a statement issued in Abuja and signed by its National President, Dr. Ebekuo Madu, and National Secretary, Paul Nwachukwu, the group said there was no credible or verified report indicting Kalu on the matter.
“We wish to place before the Nigerian public and all well-meaning citizens of the South-East the irrefutable fact that there exists no credible, official or verified report indicting the Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu,” the statement read.
The group pointed to a verification exercise conducted in 2023 by the NYSC, which it said had already settled the matter. According to the organisation, a senior NYSC official who participated in the investigation confirmed that the Deputy Speaker’s service certificate was legitimately obtained in full compliance with the NYSC Act.
It added that the NYSC had issued an official verification letter confirming the authenticity of Kalu’s certificate following the review.
The youth organisation also dismissed claims that the issue could lead to disciplinary action by the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC), insisting that the body was unlikely to entertain what it described as frivolous and politically driven petitions.
According to the group, the LPDC’s mandate is too significant to be used as a platform for political campaigns against public officials.
The statement further alleged that the renewed allegations were part of a calculated attempt by certain political interests, particularly in Abia State, to tarnish the image of the Deputy Speaker ahead of potential future political contests.
Although Kalu has not formally declared interest in the governorship of Abia State, the group claimed that speculation surrounding such an ambition had unsettled rival political actors who were allegedly sponsoring protests and negative campaigns against him.
“Rt. Hon. Kalu has not even declared any intention to run for the governorship of Abia State, yet these desperate forces are so terrified of his potential that they have resorted to hiring proxies to attack his reputation,” the statement added.
The group described the development as an unfortunate pattern in Nigerian politics, particularly within the South-East, where prominent figures are often subjected to repeated scrutiny and allegations during election cycles.
It urged COSEYL and other youth organisations to focus their energies on addressing pressing issues affecting young people in the region, including unemployment, economic empowerment and political inclusion, rather than engaging in what it called politically motivated attacks.
Meanwhile, the Youth Renaissance for Good Governance disclosed that some youth groups within the South-East were already mobilising support for the Deputy Speaker, with discussions ongoing about a possible solidarity rally in his honour.
The organisation also called on Igbo leaders and youths to rise above divisive politics and work together to promote unity and development in the region.
“Ndi Igbo must rise above such shameless patterns of politics and focus on the collective progress of our people,” the statement concluded.
As of press time, COSEYL had not issued any response to the claims made by the youth group. Efforts to obtain comments from the office of Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu were also unsuccessful.
