N14.286bn fallacy: Igbo youths defend Kalu, say Bourdex displayed misunderstanding of NAS role

From Stanley Uzoaru, Owerri

The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders (COSEYL) has defended the Senator representing Abia North, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, over allegations that he received N14.286 billion in constituency project funds.

COSEYL, in a press release signed by its President General, Goodluck Ibem, and the Publicity Secretary, Okey Nwaoru, described the claim by Labour Party senatorial candidate for Abia North, Chief David Onuoha, also known as Bourdex, as misleading, intellectually deficient, and politically motivated.

The group said Bourdex’s calculation that N14.286 billion was “given” to Senator Kalu is founded on a fundamental misconception of how Nigeria’s constitutional democracy and public finance system works.

COSEYL explained that senators do not receive federal constituency project funds into their personal custody to execute projects.

“The National Assembly is the legislative arm of government. Its constitutional responsibilities include lawmaking, representation, oversight, and participation in the budgetary and appropriation process. It is not an executive ministry, department or agency of government,” the group stated.

COSEYL further explained that when constituents identify roads, schools, healthcare facilities, and other needs, their representatives can facilitate inclusion of such interventions in the national budget, while relevant Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) are responsible for procurement, award, supervision, and execution.

“Therefore, to announce that N14.286 billion was ‘given to Senator Kalu’ is to deliberately collapse the distinction between appropriation and execution, between legislative representation and executive administration, and between budgetary provision and personal possession of public funds,” it said.

The youth coalition challenged Bourdex to produce documentary evidence showing that N14.286 billion was transferred into Kalu’s personal account, constituency account or any account under his direct control.

“If he cannot produce such evidence, then his repeated claim that Senator Kalu is ‘sitting on N14.286 billion’ amounts to nothing more than political theatrics,” COSEYL said.

The group noted that a budgetary allocation to a federal project is not the same as money handed to a legislator, and an appropriation is not evidence of personal receipt.

It advised Bourdex to direct questions on abandoned or delayed projects to the appropriate executing MDAs and oversight institutions, asking: Which MDA was responsible? Which contractor was awarded? What amount was appropriated, released, and paid?

COSEYL also pointed out that Bourdex previously served as Chairman of Ohafia Local Government Area and should understand the difference between appropriation and execution.

The group said if Bourdex seeks genuine accountability, his own record in office, including resources available to his administration and projects undertaken in Ohafia, should also be placed on the examination table.

COSEYL said Senator Kalu’s interventions in education, infrastructure, empowerment, employment, healthcare, and community development are visible across Abia North, and that constituents can distinguish between propaganda and performance.

It further cautioned political actors against turning ordinary political engagement into allegations of financial misconduct without credible evidence, insisting that a senator does not award federal contracts or operate a federal ministry.

“If a man aspiring to occupy the Senate cannot accurately distinguish between the legislative function of appropriation and the executive function of project implementation, Nigerians are entitled to ask whether he sufficiently understands the institution he seeks to join,” the statement added.

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