ENUGU, NIGERIA — The Southeast Young Leaders Consultative Forum (SEYLCF) has thrown its weight behind the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, condemning what it described as a coordinated attempt by certain individuals to tarnish his image and undermine his rising political profile .
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the President of the forum, Comrade Chinweuba Anyaragbu, lambasted individuals and groups linked to Goodluck Ibem and Okey Nwaoru for their sustained attacks on the Deputy Speaker over issues relating to his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) records and Nigerian Law School credentials .
Anyaragbu questioned the motives behind the campaign, describing the accusers as “hiding elements” sponsored by undisclosed interests to achieve a political vendetta. He challenged the legitimacy of those calling for a probe into matters that had already been settled by competent authorities .
“We know that these attacks are sponsored by hiding elements. Who are they to challenge an already decided matter that was resolved before a credible and competent court? The issues surrounding the Deputy Speaker’s NYSC records were laid to rest as far back as May 2023 when the NYSC issued a formal verification letter affirming the authenticity of his certificate,” Anyaragbu stated .
The forum noted that the NYSC had conducted an independent investigation into the matter in 2023 and subsequently issued a verification letter confirming that Kalu obtained his certificate in full compliance with the NYSC Act . Anyaragbu insisted that recycling the same allegations after an official resolution by a statutory body amounted to malicious prosecution and political desperation .
The SEYLCF president further dismissed the recent calls by some groups for the Deputy Speaker to step aside pending investigation, describing such demands as “unreasonable and calculated to embarrass a respected national leader”.
Anyaragbu also took aim at the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL), which had earlier issued statements calling for an independent probe into Kalu’s records . He noted that the group’s credibility had been severely damaged following the suspension of its factional President, Goodluck Ibem, for issuing unauthorized and defamatory statements against the Deputy Speaker.
“Just recently, COSEYL was forced to apologize publicly and suspend Ibem for bringing the organization into disrepute. Yet, the same elements are still lurking around, trying to re-invent the same failed narrative. Southeast youths are not fools, and we will not allow our region to be used as a battleground for vendetta politics,” Anyaragbu warned.
The forum commended the Deputy Speaker’s composure and focus on national assignments despite the sustained attacks. It described Kalu as one of the Southeast’s brightest political assets and urged him to remain undeterred in his service to the nation and the region.
“Kalu has remained calm, focused, and undistracted. That is the mark of a true leader. Those who think they can bring him down through blackmail and propaganda will continue to fail because he whom God has lifted, no man can bring down,” the statement concluded .
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