The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Kalu

  • Abia APC backs Kalu’s call for Otti to rejoin party

    Abia APC backs Kalu’s call for Otti to rejoin party

    The Abia State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has expressed support for the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, in his call for Governor Alex Otti to rejoin the ruling party at the centre, saying that the Labour Party (LP) will be ousted in 2027.

    The state Executive Council of the APC has also vowed to suspend Okey Ezeala for falsely representing himself as the party’s publicity secretary and issuing what the leadership described as an unauthorized statement on behalf of the party’s executive committee.

    In a statement, Abia APC chairman Dr. Kingsley Ononogbu reaffirmed the party’s strong backing of Kalu and reiterated the call for Otti to return to the APC.

    He described Ezeala as an inconsistent and unreliable character who engages in anti-party activities and unauthorised utterances.

    Read Also; Police foil bandit attack, rescue five kidnapped victims in Katsina

    Ononogbu disclosed that the state exco will be summoning Ezeala who purportedly apologised to the state governor on behalf of the party to explain when he became the spokesperson of Abia APC and who authorized him.

    According to him, Ezeala’s role as the publicity secretary of the party ended the day he bought a form to contest for the position of the state House of Assembly in the 2023 election, adding that in line with the rules, he is supposed to relinquish his role.

    While disclosing that the name of the publicity secretary of the party in the state would be announced soon, Ononogbu enjoined members of APC in Abia to remain calm as the state Executive Committee was handling the matter.

    While charging the party members to be more united and firm in supporting the deputy speaker, he urged them to work hard to win more souls for the party and take over government in Abia, come 2027.

    The statement read: “We came across a news report where one Okey Ezeala ‘apologised’ to Governor Alex Otti of Abia State, claiming he was apologizing for the bold invitation extended by one of our party leaders, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, to the Abia Governor to join APC.

    “Okey Ezeala’s apology is unauthorized, fake, unsolicited, hypocritical, and smacks of bitterness and disrespect for the person and office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Benjamin Kalu.

    “Ezeala claimed he was apologizing on behalf of the APC. Lies! Numerous APC stalwarts have risen to align themselves with Hon. Benjamin Kalu in his invitation to Governor Otti.

    “We therefore resolve to make it abundantly clear that we stand with our leader, Hon. Benjamin Kalu on this call and equally put our voice to calling on Governor Otti to return home.

    “Ezeala claiming to be the publicity secretary of the party in the state when he’s not is an act of impersonation.

    “He will be summoned by the party in the coming days to offer explanations on when he was appointed the party’s spokesperson.

    “As we urge our party members to ensure membership of the party grows, we firmly stand with the call by the Deputy Speaker on Governor Otti.”

  • Reps deputy speaker, Kalu bags quality representation, leadership award

    Reps deputy speaker, Kalu bags quality representation, leadership award

    The Dr. Michael Okpara Leadership Foundation has recognised the deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu for his quality representation and display of adept leadership skills in the National Assembly.

    At its 2024 lecture and award ceremony which took place at the Shehu Yar’adua Centre in Abuja, the advisory board and organizing committee presented Kalu with an award of quality representation and leadership.

    Dr. Michael Okpara was the Premier of the defunct Eastern Region of Nigeria from 1959 to 1966.

    The award, which was in commendation for Kalu’s “Quality Representation and Leadership in the Nigerian Parliament”, was received on behalf of the deputy speaker by his special adviser on political matters, Chief Daniel Akwari.

    The award re-emphasised the leadership acumen of the deputy speaker.

    It will also be recalled that Kalu, who is the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Constitutional Review sponsored the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill signed into law recently by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

    Read Also: Kalu celebrates NSPPD convener Pastor Jerry Eze on 42nd birthday

    Apart from other legislative interventions some of which have attracted numerous projects, Kalu recently also unveiled the Peace In South East Project (PISE-P), a social intervention mechanism used to preach peace and tackle the menace of insecurity and other sociological challenges in the south-east region through non-kinetic measures.

    In his remarks, Kalu appreciated Dr. Micheal Okpara’s Leadership for the award, saying he is spurred by the kind gesture to do more for the people of the southeast and the country in general.

    The event attracted the presence of former First Lady of Nigeria, Dame Patience Jonathan; former Senate President, Senator Pius Anyim Pius who is the chairman of the occasion; Imo State Governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma; Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti (represented); Anambra State governor, Professor Charles Soludo (represented); Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, his two predecessors, Clement Eberi (co-chairman) and Liyel Imoke; Senator Osita Izunaso; Senator Ned Nwoko;

    Others are Senator Chris Adighije; the Minister of State for Science and Technology, Innovation, Uche Nnaji; Oli mogul and notable businessman, Chief Arthur Eze;  the Secretary General of Ohanaze Ndigbo, Ambassador Okey Emuche; Chairman, Governing Council, Federal Polytechnic, Nakede, Chief Henry Ikoh; Chief Ugochukwu Onyema amongst other dignitaries.

  • Kalu celebrates NSPPD convener Pastor Jerry Eze on 42nd birthday

    Kalu celebrates NSPPD convener Pastor Jerry Eze on 42nd birthday

    Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu has congratulated the founder of Streams of Joy International, Pastor Jerry Eze on his 42nd birthday.

    Kalu, in a statement, admired the commitment and dedication of the convener of the New Season Prophetic Prayers and Declaration (NSPPD), a popular online digital prayer meeting platform, has shown over the years towards the work of God and the liturgical exaltations.

    The Deputy Speaker thanked God for using Pastor Jerry Eze to propagate the gospel of salvation and touch lives around the world.

    Read Also: First Lady’s N1.85b empowerment excites women petty traders

    He saluted Eze’s humility, saying that his ecclesiastical and levitical uprightness are exemplary.

    The Deputy Speaker also sent his regrets for not being physically present to partake in the auspicious birthday celebrations.

    Wishing Pastor Jerry Eze long life in good health, Kalu prayed for more of God’s grace and blessings upon His servant to continue on the spiritual voyage.

  • APC candidate will be next Abia governor – Kalu declares

    APC candidate will be next Abia governor – Kalu declares

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has expressed confidence that the next governor of Abia State will be from the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a viral video on Monday, August 19, Kalu discussed the party’s prospects in the upcoming election.

    While acknowledging that Governor Otti has performed well, Kalu argued that President Bola Tinubu’s contributions to the state make it essential for the APC to take the lead in governing Abia.

    He said: “This will be the last time a Labour governor will govern Abia State. I say it without mincing words. The next governor of Abia State will be APC governor.

    “I have told him publicly and privately that the APC governor will be next in Abia State. How it will happen, I don’t know, but it will happen.

    ”I am confident because my government is working hard, the President is working hard, and Abia will repay the president. The president that has given you the South East Development Commission will be repaid.

    “A president that is appointing Abians into administration. A president who is attracting the dividends of democracy will be repaid. We are not ungrateful people. Monkey will not work, and baboon chop. APC will not help the state to be strong, and Labour will take the credit.”

    Kalu emphasized that the 2027 election would end this, saying that he could not continue to be the nation’s sixth citizen while his state was ruled by a different party.

    Read Also: How ECOWAS Parliament can succeed, by Kalu

    “We are friends, we work together, but I will not be the number six citizen of the country, and another party will govern my state. The next election in 2027, APC will be there.

    “APC will determine who will become the next governor of Abia State. I don’t care about who the person is. However, one thing I know is that the platform, APC, will be the next governor of Abia state.

    “We are ready to work for Abia State and we are tired of being outside the government at the centre. We need to leverage the power of the centre to increase the development of Abia state,” he added.

  • ECOWAS plans amendments of supplementary act — Kalu

    ECOWAS plans amendments of supplementary act — Kalu

    The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has disclosed a plan of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament to amend its Supplementary Act.

    This, Kalu said, is to entrench the Separation of Powers and guarantee legislative autonomy.

    He spoke in Abidjan, Cote D’Ivoire, during an interview with journalists at the sidelines of a meeting of ECOWAS parliament’s joint committee on administration, finance, budget, public accounts, macroeconomic policy, and economic research.

    The deputy speaker was a co-chairman at the meeting.

    He explained that when laws become obsolete, they outlive their usefulness to the dynamic society, hence, the need to amend them to strengthen the legislature.

    He stressed that if it was not done, it would allow the executive to become the ‘judge in their case.’

    The parliamentarian said that the attendant scenario of weak sub-regional institutions would culminate in their losing credibility before the international community.

    He expressed confidence that the move would get the buy-in of the Authority of ECOWAS Heads of State and Government.

    Read Also: Oyo begins digital soil testing in 100 communities, trains farmers

    Kalu, while stating that all the member states of the regional bloc would want to see it happen, said: “Rightly put, we need to amend the Supplementary Act.

    She said: “The protocols that brought the ECOWAS Commission and ECOWAS Parliament into existence need to be overhauled.

    “This is because these laws are not cast in stones; indeed, no law is cast in stone.”

    He revealed that the parliament was also looking at the laws controlling the management, the administration, and the operationalization of so many expectations of citizens, who are members of the ECOWAS community.

    He said: “We’ll see whether they are fit for our purpose or not. When laws become obsolete, they don’t fit into the needs of the dynamic society.

    “We’ll touch them up so that they’ll become proper and we’ll ensure that we get what we are supposed to get.

    “So, we are heading towards that because the Supplementary Act does not fully give the independence of the parliament,” he said.

    Kanu, an APC lawmaker representing Abia, Bende Constituency, said the legislature is not independent, and the subregion cannot claim to be a democratic institution without strengthening the fulcrum of democracy.

    He said: “For a couple of days now, we’ve been busy analysing the rules of procedure, and members are speaking out their minds.

    “We are analysing the supplementary act, to find out if there is anything we can do to increase the independence of the legislative arm of the Community.

    “So this is the kind of conversation that has been going on,” he said.

    Kalu, who is also a lawyer and chairman of Nigeria’s House of Representatives Constitutional Review Committee, insisted that the legislature is the fulcrum of the democratic establishment.

    He said: “We are already reviewing the Grundnorm of Nigeria, one of the greatest countries of the Black race.

    “It is not happening yet in the ECOWAS community, and we want it to happen.

    “I’m sure the heads of government of all the states in the ECOWAS want it to happen.

    “We need to sit with them, to make sure that we do it in a way that will strengthen the legislature more than it is now.

    Kalu emphasised that once this was in place, the three ethos and principles of democracy, namely, transparency, accountability, and credibility, would be observed.

    “If the legislature is not strong, when it is supposed to be the watchdog of the other arms of government, the executive will be the judge in their own case.

    “They will make their budgets, they’ll oversight themselves, and that is not in line with the expectation of democracy.

    “So, there is the need to strengthen the legislature to enable us to observe the doctrine of Separation of Powers.

    “The doctrine is clear on the definition of the parameters of the operation of the various arms of government.

    “It is like saying, look, legislature, you know your boundaries; executive, you know your boundaries.

    “And it is good for each one of them to do the function of being their own leader, and be the watchdog of the responsibilities of the others,” he said.

    The lawmaker further noted that the parliament’s push towards amending the act would come with a lot of advocacy.

    “It’s not going to be achieved through boxing gloves. It’s going to be through lobbying, through negotiation. We’ll let people know that if we don’t do this, the Committee of Nations will not see our organization as credible.

    “Just because we do not observe the true elements of good governance, transparency, and accountability,” he said.

  • ECOWAS parliament will ensure transparent use of resources – Kalu

    ECOWAS parliament will ensure transparent use of resources – Kalu

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu said on Monday, August 12, that the legislative arm of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) will intensify its oversight functions on the executive arm to ensure that the finances are judiciously and transparently used for the people.

    Kalu who is chairman of the finance and budget committee of the ECOWAS Parliament made this known while speaking as the co-chair at the meeting of the Joint Committee on Administration, Finance and Budget/Public Accounts/Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research of the ECOWAS Parliament in Abidjan, Republic of Côte d’Ivoire.

    Chief Press Secretary to the Deputy Speaker, Levinus Nwabughiogu said in a statement that the objective of the Joint Committee meeting is to enable Representatives to understand the ECOWAS Parliament’s role in the Community Budget Formulation and Monitoring, and to equip members with the requisite knowledge and skills to ensure prudent management of community resources.

    Kalu said: “This can only be achieved through meaningful engagements with key stakeholders, especially, the ECOWAS Commission and the Administration and Finance Committee (AFC), which is a statutory technical committee under the supervision of the ECOWAS Council of Ministers.”

    While offering more insights on the budgeting process, Kalu said it is a key skill for ensuring that community institutions like ECOWAS have the resources to execute programs, projects and activities that are in the interest of the member countries.

    “Now that we have spoken on the importance of budget formulation, the next step would be to determine how best to achieve effective budget monitoring.

    Read Also: Kalu declares scholarships for indigent children, less privileged in Abia

    “As Representatives of the people of the region, we must champion the promotion and practice of transparency and accountability. The Community Levy should be utilised to impact every individual in society, especially those on the lowest strata.

    “Thus, in line with our Supplementary Act, Parliament is required to regularly carry out oversight functions over the activities of Programme implementing ECOWAS Institutions and Agencies and adopt appropriate Resolutions.

    “In other words, ‘oversight’ is an indispensable parliamentary tool that should be effectively deployed to secure the accountability of the Executive to the Parliament and the citizens in general.

    “The Parliament has a critical duty to ensure that public resources are utilised responsibly and for intended purposes, by the Executives.”

  • Kalu declares scholarships for indigent children, less privileged in Abia

    Kalu declares scholarships for indigent children, less privileged in Abia

    Deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has declared scholarship awards for indigent children in Bende town, the headquarters of Bende local government government area of Abia. 

    The deputy speaker made this known at the weekend while speaking at the grand finale of his tour of the 13 electoral wards of Bende federal constituency.

    A statement by Kalu’s chief press secretary, Levinus Nwabughiogu, stated that the scholarship is from the kindergarten to the university level.

    Kalu also promised to help other less privileged individuals and the poorest of the poor in rebuilding their thatched roofed houses within Bende town to give the people a decent living.

    Kalu said he embarked on the tour to show appreciation to the people for their support in 2023 general elections and urged the people to continue to support the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu led All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government. 

    Read Also: South East Development Commission will tackle ecological problems in Igboland – Deputy Speaker, Kalu

    He said: “I love you all. The less privileged kids in Bende ward, from today, I will set up scholarship. I will start it up with N10 million. You will form a committee that will manage it. The money should be used to pay school fees for these kids. I will ensure that they are trained from kindergarten to the university level. 

    “Aside building roads, hospitals and so on, we need to develop human capital. It’s very important. The kids are leaders of tomorrow. God is going to bless us all.

    “As for the solar energy and other things you requested I will ensure it’s done. The renovation of the woman hall. It’s done. I’m happy that you voted for me and you’re happy with the work I have done so far. More work will be done. 

    “We will help the indigent, homeless families and old people with thatched roofed houses in Bende to build new and better ones. We have started already and we will go round the Ward. I need your prayers to do more. I need your support. We will our best to develop Bende.”

    He also received decampees from various political parties into the All Progressives Congress (APC). 

    President General of Bende Town Development Union, Barr. Peter Iheanacho Ndukwe said all political structures in Bende town had been collapsed into APC as a mark of massively support for Kalu. 

    “We have collapsed APGA. In PDP, their only pride in Bende Ward here is the local government vice chairman. We told him to come out, that All Progressive Congress is better, and our brother is making us proud. So, he left and joined APC. So, we’ve collapsed the remnants of PDP in this ward. This is proof of Benjamin Kalu’s labour, his hardwork”, he said.

  • Kalu gets kudos for ‘business ethics’

    Kalu gets kudos for ‘business ethics’

    Former Abia State governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has been described as an astute businessman and politician.

    “As a businessman, Kalu stands firm on the ethics of business and agreement. People can have differences with him when it comes to politics, but no one has ever shaded him for not keeping to business agreements,” an Abia-based cleric, Apostle Chuks Alozie, said.

    Speaking at a yearly business seminar for young entrepreneurs in Abuja, Alozie said Kalu was an inspirational example of the integrity demands of a businessman.

    He said many up-and-coming businesses died because their young owners failed to maintain integrity.

    The priest said Kalu had over the years remained a reliable businessman, adding: “This attitude of his applies to both small and big businesses. These are the kind of qualities you must strive to possess if you want to be very successful and steady.”

    Read Also: Tinubu establishes SCO-PMU to manage health sector funding

    Alozie urged the young businessmen to learn from their successful forerunners and remain committed and steadfast to their ambitions.

    He advised them to build long term relationships by consistently delivering on their promises as well as maintaining a high standard of service.

    Warning the youngsters against the “get rich quick syndrome”, he said there was joy and reward in hard work.

    “The obsession for instant wealth has left countless young people disillusioned, financially devastated, and even facing the legal consequences of their action. So, embrace integrity and reliability for sustainable long term growth,” Alozie added.

  • Kalu celebrates Tinubu over assent to South East Devt. Comm. Bill

    Kalu celebrates Tinubu over assent to South East Devt. Comm. Bill

    Deputy Speaker. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has thanked President Ahmed Bola Tinubu, GCFR, for signing the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill into law, approving the creation of the commission. 

    The bill was sponsored by Kalu and all the lawmakers from the south east region from the House of Representatives.

    The bill sought to establish a commission that will be charged with the responsibility to receive and manage fund from allocation of the federation account for the reconstruction and rehabilitation of roads, houses and other infrastructural damage suffered by the region as a result of the effect of the civil war after 54 years. 

    The commission will as well tackle the ecological problems and any other related environmental or developmental challenges in the Southeast States which include Abia, Imo, Enugu, Anambra and Ebonyi. 

    Reacting to the development in a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Levinus Nwabughiogu, the elected Kalu profusely thanked President Tinubu, his colleagues in the national assembly and indeed, all Nigerians for supporting the bill.

    He also conveyed the appreciation of all Ndi Igbo from the South East region, assuring them of more positive attention from the President.

  • Kalu advocates part-time legislature

    Kalu advocates part-time legislature

    The chairman of the Senate Committee on Privatisation, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has backed calls for part-time legislature at both federal and state levels.

    Senator Kalu (APC-Abia North) said this would help the nation cut costs and enhance the citizenry’s trust in the polity.

    The former Abia governor said this in an interview published on his verified Facebook page over the weekend.

    On calls for a part-time legislature, Kalu said: “I think it will be a very good idea if my colleagues and other members of the Houses of Assembly will agree that we can sit for three months and do constitutional amendment first.

    Read Also: Shun anti-govt protests, says Kalu, seeks six- month salary cut of lawmakers

    “So we can sit four times a year and if there’s any emergency, there will be emergency sitting. We can come to do a presidential bid on that basis and go back instead of sitting on a full-time basis.

    “Not only the Senate and the House of Representatives, but all the legislative houses in Nigeria will be part-time.”

    Kalu said that this would be part of austerity measures to reduce the cost of governance, arguing that regional government is another viable alternative.

    “If we’re going for regional government, it also means that the ministers, the legislators, will be the same. I’ve been tinkering with the idea of how we can save money to run Nigeria because the country needs money.

    “I will encourage the President, the National Assembly to make these kinds of laws. This will help him, and this will help the system, and this will help everybody,” he said.

    The ex-governor explained that contrary to misconceptions among Nigerians, senators are not paid enough.

    “But I want Nigerians and my colleagues to do a quick constitutional amendment so we can go and be a part-time sitting Senate and part-time sitting House of Representatives and other 36 state houses of assembly in Nigeria.

    “That will bring trust and bring relief to the Nigerian people,” the ex-governor said.