Hon. Benjamin Kalu, Member representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State and Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, on Thursday officially declared his ambition to be Speaker of the 10th National Assembly.
Kalu is the only All Progressives Congress, APC House member from Abia State and a second-timer in the Green Chamber.
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In his declaration he said, “Nigerians are looking for a speaker that will increase what I call ‘parliamentary sovereignty;’ where the motions, the resolutions and independence of the arm of the government would be showcased better than 9th Assembly has struggled. Because the 9th Assembly has maintained its independence, then we need somebody that will toe the path and sustain that independence.
“Many people say rubberstamp but we have always consciously monitored the borderline in the way we sustain this rancour-free relationship with the Executive, understanding the doctrine of separation of powers, knowing the borderline between what is expected by the mandate of our arm of the government, constitutionally speaking, and where the mandate of the Executive starts.
“So, Nigerians are looking for parliamentary sovereignty. Nigerians are looking for a speaker that will increase institutional trust. You and I will agree that the coming of the legislature appears like a strange arm of the government, when Nigerians have been used to military rule with only the Executive and the Judiciary.”
Kalu stated that under his leadership as the speaker, laws bothering on education; economy – economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction; insecurity, healthcare and environmental sustainability would be prioritized.
“These are some of the things that the speaker that is coming on board should be equipped to be able to deliver and I know Benjamin Okezie Kalu has been equipped to represent 369 members as the image-maker of the House of Representatives for four years,” he added.
Other aspirants for the Nigerian Number four man include the Deputy Speaker, Ahmed Wase; embattled Majority Leader, Alhassan Ado-Doguwa; chairman of the House Committee on Navy, Yusuf Gagdi; chairman, House Committee on Appropriations, Aliyu Betara; chairman, House Committee on Science Research Institutes, Olaide Akinremi; chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Land Transport, Tajudeen Abbas; and chairman of the House Committee on Emergency and Disaster Preparedness, Abdulraheem Olawuyi.
There have been calls recently from Civil Society Organizations, ruling Party supporters and stakeholders that the Speakership post should be zone to South-East, for balance, equity and justice.
The 10th National Assembly is expected to be inaugurated in June in 2023.