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Item Community apologises to Kalu over festival disruption

Item Community apologises to Kalu over festival disruption
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The Item Development Association (IDA), Aba Branch, has publicly condemned and apologized for the disruption of Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu's speech at the Item Cultural Festival. The association clarified that the unruly behavior was the work of mischief makers and does not reflect the community's values.
Context & Background
  • ✦Item is a significant community within the Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, covering three of the 13 electoral wards.
  • ✦The incident highlights the tension between cultural events and political activities, as the IDA expressed regret that the festival was politicized.
Key Figures & Named Entities
•Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was praised for his statesmanlike response to the disruption.•Chief David Kalu Uduma (Chairman) and Sunday Peter Iroegbu (Secretary) of the IDA, Aba Branch, who signed the official apology.
Outlook & Next Steps
The IDA has taken steps to distance the broader Item community from the incident to maintain their reputation as a peace-loving and respectful people.
Key Takeaways
AI Summary
  • ✦The Item Development Association (IDA), Aba Branch, has formally apologized to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu for the disruption of his speech at the Item Cultural Festival.
  • ✦The association condemned the incident as the work of 'mischief makers' and emphasized that the political chants did not represent the values of the Item community.
  • ✦Despite attending an APC presidential campaign rally in Port Harcourt earlier that day, Kalu honored the invitation to the festival held in Aba.
Key Facts:Saturday, November 7, 2026: The Item Cultural Festival took place at the Abia State College of Health Sciences and Management Technology in Aba.
Editorial Excerpt

The Item Development Association (IDA), Aba Branch, has condemned the disruption of a speech by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, at the Item Cultural Festival in Aba, Abia State.

Frequently Asked Questions About This Story

Who issued the apology to Deputy Speaker Benjamin Okezie Kalu?

The apology was issued by the Item Development Association (IDA), Aba Branch, through its Chairman, Chief David Kalu Uduma, and Secretary, Sunday Peter Iroegbu.

What was the nature of the incident at the Item Cultural Festival?

The incident involved the disruption of the Deputy Speaker's speech by individuals engaging in political chants, which the IDA described as unruly conduct.

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