The Forum of South East Professors and Professionals (FOSEPP) has commended President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the NWC of the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) for not just zoning the position of Deputy Speaker to the South East but for nominating a credible son and representative of the zone, Hon. Ben Kalu to the said position. This was communicated in a release made available to news men at the close of their quarterly meeting held in Enugu midweek.
In the release signed by the convenor and President of the Forum, Professor Victor Ukaogo, the Secretary Professor (Mrs) Florence Orabueze and the organizing secretary, Professor Okwudili Bedee Emerole, the Forum held that
“we applaud Mr President and the All Progressive Congress NWC for finding Hon. Ben Kalu worthy of occupying the office of Deputy Speaker even as the region could not muster convincing votes for the President -Elect in the last February 2023 elections.
Resting on the poor fortunes of the APC in the south east and the seeming resolve of the party to show inclusivity and embrace the region, the Forum encouraged the party to ‘keep up with the policy of inclusion’ by even ceding more ‘relevant positions to the region’.
The Forum observed that though the Deputy Speaker position might seem little; not commensurate with the status and stature of the zone, it is far better than the believed zero allocation many had envisaged will be the lot of the region. Without sounding apologetic, the Forum observed that the practice of winner-take-all that is considered ‘normal’ in our clime forcloses the possibility of even the smallest of all positions but for the new thinking of inclusivity of the party.
The Forum celebrated Hon. Ben Kalu for his steadfastness in service delivery to his people and urged him to justify the trust bestowed on him by the president and the party. While asking the people to support the nominee, the Forum frowned at the predictable voting pattern of the region that has never favoured them as has been the case since 1999. In the opinion of the Forum, ‘the party made the right and the best choice in preferring Hon. Ben Kalu’ who has distinguished himself as a creative lawmaker with intercontinental capabilities, a true son of Bende and Igboland. They pledged to stand for the truth and by the nominee always especially on matters concerning the region and on issues pertaining to the lawmaker himself.
