Abia State's Benjamin Kalu officially launches his bid to become House of Reps speaker

HON Benjamin Kalu the lawmaker representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State has declared his intention to ruin for the speakership of the 10th House of Representatives when it resumes sitting on May 29.

With Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from the southwest elected as president and Senator Kashim Shettima from the northeast elected as vice president, the race for the senate president  and House of Representatives speaker is open to candidates from all of the other four geo-political zones. Ranking senators and reps from the northwest, south-south, southeast and north central geo-political zones are already positioning themselves for the coveted position, three months before elections are due.

For now, is not yet clear who will get what but the fight for the leadership of both houses has begun in earnest, with Hon Kalu, the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, officially joining the fray.  Hon Kalu, who has been re-elected for a second term, will be the only All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker from Abia State in the 10th House after the political tsunami created by the Labour Party.

He said: “Nigerians are looking for a speaker that will increase what I call parliamentary sovereignty, where the motions, the resolutions and independence of the arm of the government would be showcased. Because the ninth assembly has maintained its independence,  we need somebody that will toe the path and sustain that independence.

“Many people say rubberstamp but we have always consciously monitored the borderline in the way we sustain this rancour-free relationship with the executive, understanding the doctrine of separation of powers, knowing the borderline between what is expected by the mandate of our arm of the government, constitutionally speaking and where the mandate of the executive starts. So, Nigerians are looking for parliamentary sovereignty.

Hon Kalu stated that under his leadership as the speaker, laws on education, economic growth, job creation, poverty reduction, insecurity, healthcare and environmental sustainability would be prioritised. He added that the image-maker of the House of Representatives for four years, he has the experience to get the job done.

Meanwhile, another member of the House, Hon Tajudeen Abbas, is said to be preparing to officially declare his speakership bid soon. Hon Abbas, who represents Zaria Federal Constituency in Kaduna State on the platform of the APC, is Chairman of the House Committee on Land Transport.