Kalu’s Emergence as Deputy House Speaker Elicits Excitement in Abia

Emmanuel Ugwu-Nwogo in Umuahia

The emergence of Hon Benjamin Kalu as the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives has generated interest and goodwill across political party lines in Abia State.

Kalu, who represents Bende federal constituency, was elected for a second term in the 2023 general election, and is the only Abia State lawmaker in the House on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

But with his new status as the House Deputy Speaker, politicians from rival parties are as happy as those in APC, as they welcomed the choice of Kalu for the number two principal officer of the House.

The state governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 poll, Dr. Ukpai Iro Ukpai, lauded Kalu’s emergence as the Deputy Speaker of the House, describing it as “a huge achievement for Abia State.”

In a congratulatory message to the Deputy Speaker, Ukpai said Kalu was well primed for his new position given his overall performance in his first term in the ninth House of Representatives.

“This is well deserved given the manner Kalu discharged his duties as the spokesperson of the ninth House and as representative of Bende federal constituency,” he said.

The NNPP gubernatorial standard bearer expressed optimism that Kalu “will not rest on his tested oars as we Abians, Igbos, and Nigerians expect a superlative performance from you and the 10th House of Representatives.”

Ukpai further reminded the Deputy House Speaker that Bende federal constituency and Abia State expect more dividends of democracy from him, praying to God to bless him and grant him “wisdom and bountiful grace.”

In his reaction, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), Chief Chikwe Udensi, noted that though the post of the Deputy Speaker is number six in the order of national protocol, it is still a very important one.

Udensi, who was speaking on a radio programme in Umuahia yesterday, insisted that the character of the person occupying a position matters more than the ranking of the position in order of protocol.