By; JACOB ONJEWU DICKSON
As the leadership race of the 10th National Assembly hots up, North East, All Progressives Congress Youth Coalition for Better Nigeria on Monday welcomed the zoning of the position of the deputy speaker to the South-East by the party’s National Working Committee (APC-NWC).
The coalition specifically described the lawmaker representing Bendel Federal Constituency, Abia State, Benjamin Okezie Kalu, who is the favoured candidate of APC-NWC as “eminently qualified” for the position of deputy speaker in the next assembly having grown politically over the years.
The convener, Comrade Aliyu Sa’ad Mohammed said the coalition was convinced that Kalu, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs possesses leadership skills that would provide a sound legislative procedure for the smooth take-off and running of the government under the administration President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“It is with great delight that we welcome the zoning of the seat of Deputy Speaker of the 10th National Assembly to Hon. Benjamin Kalu from Abia State.
“This is because of his competence, patriotism and commitment to a prosperous Nigeria through positive synergy between the executive and legislature which we saw in the current assembly.
“Having served as Senior Special Adviser to the then Abia State Governor and now a Senator, Orji Uzor Kalu on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and later MDGs, the one time Local Government Chairman of Bende Local Government was also student leader whose entire life has been of service to God and humanity.
“The APC National Working Committee could not have made a better choice for the Deputy Speakership than Hon. Kalu even though he is also eminently qualified for the Speakership of the 10th Assembly.
“We are optimistic that with Hon. Kalu as Deputy Speaker, the Asiwaju Tinubu Administration will get all necessary legislative support to deliver the mandate bestowed on him and our party the APC”, Sa’ad said.
The coalition also called on the group of seven (G-7) aspirants in the race for the speakership who believed that Kalu was among the few candidates favoured by both the party and the President-elect, to garner support for him ahead of the electing in the house in a few days to come in the interest of the party.
