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BENDE, ABIA STATE — A prominent Abia businessman and philanthropist, Dr. Chima Anyaso, has challenged Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, over the reported deplorable condition of a community hall in his Bende Federal Constituency, giving the lawmaker a 30-day ultimatum to fix the facility.
Anyaso, in remarks contained in a statement circulating on social media, described the condition of the community facility as embarrassing, questioning the contrast between the political stature of the lawmaker and the state of basic infrastructure in his constituency.
“Look at the kind of hall in the community of a Federal House member and Deputy Speaker who proudly speaks of his position as number six in Nigeria,” Anyaso said.
He then issued a direct challenge to Kalu, declaring: “Go and tell Benjamin that I said, ‘Charity begins at home. He should fix this structure within 30 days. If not, I will come and fix it myself.'”
The remarks appear to be directed at Kalu, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and member representing Bende Federal Constituency.
Photos and videos circulating online purportedly showing the community hall depict a facility in a visibly poor state of repair, with claims of prolonged neglect generating reactions among residents and other stakeholders in the constituency.
The development has triggered a fresh debate over the state of grassroots infrastructure in Bende and the responsibilities of elected representatives towards their constituents.
While some residents and commentators have commended Anyaso for what they described as “speaking truth to power,” others have called for a more measured approach, arguing that constituency development should be addressed through established government processes and accountability mechanisms.
At the centre of the controversy is the question of whether the political prominence of elected officials should be matched by tangible improvements in the communities they represent.
Anyaso’s statement has consequently turned the condition of the facility into a broader conversation about constituency representation, community development and the delivery of projects that directly affect residents.
As of the time of filing this report, there was no official response from the office of the Deputy Speaker addressing Anyaso’s 30-day ultimatum.
The controversy is likely to sustain public scrutiny of constituency infrastructure in Bende, particularly as political activities ahead of the 2027 general elections gradually intensify.This version deliberately uses “reportedly,” “purportedly,” and “appears” where the underlying claims are based on circulating social-media material rather than independently verified evidence.
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