Benjamin Kalu, spokesperson of the house of representatives,
says he is interested in becoming the speaker of the 10th assembly.
Kalu spoke on Wednesday while fielding questions from
journalists in Abuja.
“The speculation out there as to whether or not I have shown
interest to contest for the speakership for the 10th assembly is true,” Kalu
said.
“Yes, I’m interested in that position. I’m interested in becoming the next speaker of the house of representatives.”
Kalu said he is competent to lead the green chamber, adding
that no lawmaker from the south-east has been a speaker in four decades.
He said the country needs to bridge the gap in “diversity
insensitivity” to foster cohesion.
Kalu said governors should not “impose” their choice on the
members-elect, but should allow them to choose a competent hand.
“We need to have new
members buy into our competence to lead. It is not good for leaders at home to
impose (someone) that will lead the members of the parliament without the
members having any knowledge about who is coming to lead them,” he said.
“I’m bringing on board transformative, and legislative
intervention that is based on innovation and it is only people like us who have
been equipped that will be able to bridge that gap.”
‘I DEFENDED TINUBU IN SOUTH-EAST’
Kalu, who is the sole All Progressives Congress (APC) house
of representatives member-elect from Abia, said he defended President-elect
Bola Tinubu when “it was like a taboo to do so” in the south-east.
The legislator said his office in Abia was targeted with
bullets because he supported the APC and Tinubu, adding that he should be
rewarded with the speakership position.
“The APC gave me a platform. I was the only member of APC
that fought and won for the house of representatives in Abia state,” he said.
“I defended my party, I took bullets for my party, I
projected my presidential candidate even when it was like a taboo to do so in
the south-eastern region. My office received hundreds of bullets or more
because I was preaching APC.
“It is time for a reward. If there is loyalty to the party,
loyalty should always be rewarded to stimulate further loyalty. If I stood firm
to win for my party in Bende federal constituency, as the only surviving APC
house of reps member in the entire Abia state, it means that I have something
to offer and I defended my party.
“It is time for my
party to let my people know that I didn’t make any mistake by standing by the
party. Let them give us what is my due based on my qualification.”
Asked if he will take up any other position in the green
chamber if the speakership is not zoned to the south-east, Kalu said: “As a
party man, I’ll oblige my party.”
“I believe in the
supremacy of the party — that is key. You can have your aspiration, you can
dream but it must be within the control of the platform for which you got to
the house,” he added.
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