Author: Drum Africa Correspondent

Back in my days in the university in Nigeria, there was this female professor, vocal, audacious, and forthright in her dealings with everyone including the university management.  In the university senate meetings, her presence elicits a measure of dread, especially for the underperforming and ill-prepared vice-chancellor. She was reputed to have always said ‘in doing my things, I do not walk, I run. In like manner,  the spokesman of the HoR, Hon. Benjamin Kalu seem to have a verifiable disdain for walking but developed and adapted an admirable capacity to run even as a first-timer. And for three years plus,…

The House of Representatives has adopted the motion raised by the Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Benjamin Kalu on the urgent need to improve the quality of malaria intervention by prioritizing local content to prevent the high mortality rate of malaria in Nigeria today, July 27, 2022. While presenting the motion to the House, the lawmaker stated that the recent 2021 Malaria Indicator survey analysis shows that Nigeria is sliding back with a parasite prevalence of 32% and the Impact of Malaria in the country has caused the country huge…

Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Spokesperson of the House has sent his wishes to the Fmr. President General Ohaneze Ndi Igbo South African region, Chief Daniel Akwari a.k.a Osuuzor on his birthday, describing him as a true friend and dependable ally. The lawmaker in his statement appreciated Chief Akwari for his commitment to the development of Item and Bende Federal Constituency through his dedication and hard work. He prayed for God to grant him long life and good health in his journey through life. He wrote; July 27, 2022 HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHIEF DANIEL AKWARI A.K.A OSUUZOR With great delight,…

More communities like Uzuakoli, Ozuitem, Alayi, and Itumbauzo are set to receive Federal Government Intervention on the ecological needs of the community as Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Okezie Kalu draws the attention of the House to ecological problems facing these communities. You may recall that Rep. Kalu who moved the first motion of the House on ecological intervention (HM-001), in that motion drew the attention of the Federal Government to the ecological needs in various communities in Bende Federal Constituency. Fortunately, some communities such as Umuimenyi Nkpa have received interventions…

In efforts to intensify the fight against corruption in Nigeria, the bill to establish the Office of National Inspector General for Tax Crime Commission sponsored by the Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Rep. Benjamin Kalu has passed through Second Reading. According to Rep. Kalu, the bill seeks to establish a system for the independent oversight of revenue collection authorities in Nigeria with the aim of promoting the economy, efficiency and effectiveness in the administration of revenue laws, leakages, expansion of the tax net, ensuring accountability in the tax system as well…

Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu is set to be awarded as the Most Outstanding Rep. Member of the Year 2022 at the 10th edition of the Democracy Heroes Awards which will be held on the 18th of August, 2022 at the Congress Hall, Transcorp Hilton in Abuja. The delegation which was led by the convener of the Awards, Mr. Olufunsho Alexandre Ajabonna paid a courtesy call to the Office of the representative to present the Certificate of Nomination to him on the 20th of July, 2022 in the National Assembly…

Member representing Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State, Hon. Benjamin Kalu has threatened legal action against one Mr. Robinson Uwak, a former member of the National Assembly over alleged defamation. Hon. Kalu, spokesperson of the House of Representatives therefore demanded apology from Mr. Uwak within seven days, retraction of the libelous contents as well as deletion of all published defamatory contents online within seven days. In a letter from his legal representative, Prof. Ernest Ojukwu, SAN of Ojukwu Faotu & Yusuf Chambers, the lawmaker also demanded that the apology letter be published in at least two national dailies and distributed…

Was it not the Holy Bible that said ‘when the righteous is in authority,  the people rejoice? The same Bible identified several individuals whose righteousness begat them death and tribulations.  Many therefore ask ‘why’? The answer like they say is blowing in the wind. This paradox aptly applies to the current spokesman of the HoR,  Hon. Ben Kalu fondly called the ‘Oracle’ of the 9th  Assembly whose representation of Bende federal constituency has become a story for posterity to record. I  will be unable to put forward all he has done in the constituency in less than 4 years for…

Member Rep Bende Federal Constituency and the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu has been nominated by the Order Paper in the Most Valuable Parliamentarians (MVP) Hall of Fame in the Category of the Top Performer in Bills Sponsorship in the SouthEast Geo-political Zone. The certificate of nomination recognizing the member as one of the top bills sponsors in the 9th Assembly was presented to the him at the OrderPaper Evening of Sparkles held on the 14th of July, 2022 at Transcorp Hilton Abuja. Rep. Kalu who has over 41 bills to his name even as a…

The Member representing Bende Federal Constituency and Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Rep. Benjamin Kalu has commiserated with the family of the Chief Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia Prof. Azubuike Onyebuchi, and the entire family over the loss of their father, Late Sir Micah Onyebuchi. The lawmaker in his condolence message expressed sadness over the loss of the Late Sir Onyebuchi who he described as a leader and admirable father. He recalled his evident strides as Chairman of Abia State Universal Basic Education Board (ASUBEB) adding that he has indeed lived a life of service and will…