Why our Team is Best to Lead 10th House of Reps – Kalu

Why our Team is Best to Lead 10th House of Reps – Kalu

The chairman, Media and Public Affairs Committee of the 9th House Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu, has explained why his team, comprising Hon Tajudeen Abbas and himself, are best to lead the upcoming 10th House of Representatives as Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.

Abbas is contesting for the position of Speaker while Kalu is seeking to be the Deputy Speaker having been endorsed by the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The ruling party had zoned the position of Speaker to the Northwest and Deputy Speaker to Southeast and narrowed down on Abbas and Kalu to take the two positions respectively.

Speaking in an interactive session with some publishers and senior editors in Abuja on Tuesday night, Kalu said despite the endorsement of the party, his team and their foot soldiers are still going round the country to meet with stakeholders and convince them of the viability of the duo.

Kalu argued that based on requisite experience and legislative competence, there is no better candidate for Speaker other than Hon Abbas, adding that he himself has what it takes to complement him as Deputy Speaker.

He added that despite the robust relationship the 10th National Assembly wants to build with the Executive and the party leadership, they would do their best to uphold the principles of separation of powers and checks and balances.

“We want everyone to come on board to build this nation with us. We are not isolating anyone. All hands must be on deck. All arms of government must be on the same page to deliver good governance to Nigerians.

“Nigerians are looking for a House of Reps that solves problems. Not one that takes decisions on the basis of emotions, tribe
or religion. A diversity-sensitive House. Nigerians want the sustenance of institutional trust and Hon Abbas and myself are in the best position to achieve that because we both possess the competence, capacity and credibility to do so,” he said.

Talking about their legislative agenda, he said his team would focus on fixing certain inequalities in the system. He emphasised that gender balance would be their watchword.

Kalu, who represents the Bende federal constituency in Abia state, also said constitutional amendment will be the focus of the 10th House of Representatives.

He noted that out of 35 amendments passed to President Muhammadu Buhari by the 9th National Assembly, only 16 were signed into law, adding that re-presenting the outstanding amendments before the incoming President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, will be the focus of the 10th Assembly.

“We will do a better job on the Appropriation act. We will clean it up and remove unnecessary projects. There will be no rush but critical analysis. We won’t sacrifice quality on the altar of speed,” he added.

Speaking on the agitation of southeasterners for better representation in governance, while fielding questions from the senior journalists, Kalu said: “I am old enough to carry the burden of representing the southeast in the APC administration. If you make me President, I can run the country and unite everybody. I am bringing southeast to the centre. Our brothers who are agitating will also come to the centre.

“With 43 bills and 22 motions to my name in my legislative career, I am more than capable of leading in whatever capacity the party deems fit. As a party man, I will be willing to make myself available if the party wants me to serve in higher capacity,”