The Office of the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, CFR has strongly refuted a recent "field tracking" report on Federal Government projects in the Bende Federal Constituency by Tracka, labeling it as a politically motivated attempt to mislead the public.
?In a press statement issued on Thursday, the Deputy Speaker’s office pointed out that the controversial report was deleted from Tracka's Facebook page barely 24 hours after its publication on July 15, 2026, for reasons yet to be explained.
The statement described the tracking report as lacking credible fieldwork and objective tracking, comparing its tone to a political pamphlet disguised as an accountability report.
It further clarified that the claims in the report reflect a fundamental misunderstanding of how federal capital projects are executed.
?The Deputy Speaker's office dismissed assertions that the 2km Amaeke–Isiegbu–Umuhu Ezechi Road was abandoned in 2024, confirming that the road has been fully completed, commissioned, and is currently in daily use by farmers, traders, and students.
Addressing allegations regarding the non-existence of garri processing centres in Ezeukwu and Umuhu Ezechi, the statement explained that the physical structures are 100% complete and connected to electricity.
The office noted that the project experienced an initial MDA classification error that has since been rectified, and the communities are currently awaiting the delivery and installation of the processing equipment, which is the statutory procurement responsibility of the implementing ministry.
?Similarly, the office rejected claims that residents were unaware of the 579 solar streetlights across Igbere A, Igbere B, and Ugwueke/Ezeukwu Wards.
It maintained that these installations are fully functional, providing nightly illumination that has boosted local security and evening commerce.
The statement questioned whether Tracka's assessors visited the actual locations, emphasizing that genuine accountability requires diligence and accuracy over sensationalism.
?The statement also reminded the public of the constitutional boundaries of a lawmaker, clarifying that the Deputy Speaker’s role is to facilitate development, secure approvals, and attract federal projects, rather than act as a direct contractor or implementing agency.
It argued that by demanding the Deputy Speaker "facilitate engagement" with the agencies, the Tracka report inadvertently acknowledged his success in executing the most challenging task of attracting these projects to the Bende constituency in the first place.
?While welcoming constructive scrutiny and debate based on facts, the Deputy Speaker’s office urged the authors of the report to revisit the project sites with objectivity to witness the completed roads, processing facilities, and operational streetlights.
It concluded by reaffirming Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu’s commitment to effective representation and tangible community development, asserting that the people of Bende can easily distinguish between genuine public service and politically driven misinformation.
