Contributions to national development is no tea party. It requires grit, zeal, character, eligibility and suitability from the persona, who must have visibly distinguished himself and has also gained acceptability and national politics being the crux of this piece, as a bridge builder whose word is his bond, poised as a man of strong conviction, vis a vis the pursuit of the ideals of his partisan affiliation.
The man, Representative Benjamin Kalu , a First Timer in Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives was selected the Spokesperson of that revered 9th House, not by mistake but after a thorough scrutiny by the majority: a responsibility he discharged with passion, bringing a human face to the onerous task of national legislation.
Permit that I briefly digress to his stewardship as the Representative of Ndi Bende in the Green Chambers. There is no gainsaying the fact that eloquent testimonies abound with regards to his representation per excellent, which gave rise to a thunderous decision of Ndi Bende to ensure that a good turn deserves another, making the dead on arrival infantile inroads made by those who wasted the time of Bende for 12 years meeting a cul de sac on the 25th of February 2023.
Ndi Bende mobilized themselves willingly to ensure that their collective decision was not toyed with and today, the rest is history. Bende returned their son to the Green Chambers to the glory of God.
The kernel of this discourse is the 10th National Assembly and the distribution of Principal Offices. Lobby is an integral part of politicking and to assume otherwise is tantamount to wishful thinking.
Since equity is part of the bedrock of democratisation, the south East would not be seen as asking for the abnormal that persons of impeccable character that can hold their own in the international comity of nations be given a look in as the shopping for the next Speaker of the 10th Assembly hits up. Calling a spade by its name, Benjamin Kalu, the man nicknamed the Oracle of the House is suitable, eligible and eminently qualified for that position.
Benjamin Kalu has never been a rabble rouser and his total loyalty to his Party, the All Progressives Congress(APC) has never been in doubt. If character, poise, learning, grit and widespread acceptability are prerequisites for leadership, Benjamin Kalu has same and more.
The South East must be unanimous, insisting that an individual of impeccable character like Benjamin Kalu be put forward for the Speakership of the Federal House of Representatives this time.
To sound very modest, Benjamin Kalu has learnt the ropes and his humble, humane and accesible nature would be an added advantage, with his negotiating and administrative acumen, the 10th Federal House of Representatives shall be a bastion of Legislative excellence.
This is an appeal to the powers that be, submitting that Representative Benjamin Okezie Kalu is the man who will not disappoint.
Ben can do the job. Yes he can. This is the renewed audacity of credibility, hope, poise and tact for service.
HENRY ONYEMA MADUBUIKE
Convener,
Centre for Excellence and Performance in Governance.
