The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has dismissed claims by the Labour Party senatorial candidate for Abia North, Chief David Ogba Onuoha Bourdex, that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was given ₦14.286 billion to execute constituency projects.
COSEYL described the claim as misleading and a fundamental misunderstanding of how Nigeria’s National Assembly and public finance system operate.
In a statement signed by its President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem, and Publicity Secretary, Comrade Okey Nwaoru, the group said constituency projects included in the national budget are not personal funds handed over to senators.
According to COSEYL, the National Assembly is responsible for legislation, representation, oversight and participation in the appropriation process, while the execution of approved projects is handled by the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) of the Federal Government.
The group explained that legislators can identify and advocate for projects such as roads, schools, healthcare facilities and water schemes needed in their constituencies. Once such projects are appropriated, however, the relevant government agencies are responsible for procurement, contracting, supervision and implementation.
COSEYL said this distinction makes it inaccurate to describe ₦14.286 billion in budgetary provisions as money personally given to Senator Kalu.
“The National Assembly makes laws and appropriates; ministries and agencies execute,” the group stated.
COSEYL challenged Bourdex to provide documentary evidence showing that the alleged ₦14.286 billion was transferred into Senator Kalu’s personal account, constituency account, political organisation or any account directly controlled by him for the execution of federal projects.
The group warned that without such evidence, describing Kalu as “sitting on ₦14.286 billion” amounts to political rhetoric rather than an established financial allegation.
“A budgetary allocation to a federal project is not the same thing as money handed to a legislator,” COSEYL said.
The group further argued that genuine questions about constituency projects should focus on the government agencies responsible for implementation.
It said appropriate questions should include which MDA was responsible for a project, the contractor awarded the contract, the contract value, the amount appropriated, funds released and paid, and the actual level of implementation.
“These are legitimate questions,” COSEYL said, while accusing Bourdex of turning constituency appropriations into allegations of personal receipt by Senator Kalu.
The South East youth coalition also questioned Bourdex’s understanding of government administration, noting that he previously served as chairman of Ohafia Local Government Area.
COSEYL said it was therefore curious that a former local government chairman would allegedly attribute federal constituency appropriations directly to a legislator.
The group added that if Bourdex wants a serious conversation about accountability and public-sector performance, his own record in office should also be open to scrutiny.
It said questions about the resources available to his administration, projects undertaken and completed, and the impact of those projects on residents should form part of any assessment of his public record.
“Those who demand accountability must themselves be prepared to submit their records to accountability,” COSEYL stated.
The group also rejected what it described as an attempt to undermine Senator Kalu’s record through “sensational arithmetic.”
According to COSEYL, Kalu’s interventions in education, infrastructure, empowerment, employment facilitation, healthcare and community development have been visible across Abia North.
The group maintained that constituents are capable of judging their representative based on their experiences and the projects and interventions they have witnessed.
COSEYL also cautioned political actors against using the economic difficulties facing Nigerians to create misleading narratives around political gatherings and community engagements.
It said the presence of large crowds during political visits should not automatically be interpreted as evidence that people were financially induced.
At the same time, the group said political opponents should not make serious allegations of financial misconduct without credible documentary evidence.
COSEYL stressed that senators do not operate federal ministries or personally award federal contracts.
“A senator legislates, represents, exercises oversight and participates in the appropriation process,” the group said.
It further argued that anyone seeking election to the Senate should understand the distinction between the legislature’s role in appropriation and the executive’s responsibility for implementation.
COSEYL consequently urged Bourdex to publish the documentary evidence supporting his ₦14.286 billion allegation instead of presenting federal budgetary provisions as personal allocations to Senator Kalu.
The group also called on the people of Abia North and the wider South East not to be distracted by what it described as political sensationalism.
“The National Assembly makes laws. It appropriates. It represents. It exercises oversight. Executive agencies execute.
“That is how constitutional government works.”
Signed:
Comrade Goodluck Ibem
President General, COSEYL
Comrade Okey Nwaoru
Publicity Secretary, COSEYL
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