Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, Deputy Speaker-designate, House of Representatives.

Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents ANLCA, has thrown its weight behind the candidacy of Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives in the 10th National Assembly due for inauguration sometime before the end of June, 2023. Okezie is the member representing Bende, (Abia State), Federal Constituency in the lower legislative chamber.

The choice of Okezie follows the recent zoning formula recently released by the National Working Committee NWC, of the governing All Progressives Congress APC after consulting President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement issued by Barr Val Iwuchukwu, Senior Special Assistant SSA, Media and Public Affairs to the National President of ANLCA, Hon. Iju Tony Nwabunike, he extoled the virtues of Hon. Kalu, insisting he is the right man for the job.

He also commended the APC NWC for picking out Hon. Kalu among the lot, which is a testament to his virtues of hard work, quality and purposeful leadership which is needed in the 10th National Assembly at this point of the country’s political history.

It was gathered that in addition to ANLCA, several other national stakeholders have commended the ruling party for making such a very good choice.

The statement made available to our Correspondent reads in part: “It is a geometrical axiom to state that when one straight line falls perpendicular with another straight line that lies horizontal, the angles formed are supplementary angles of one hundred and eighty degrees, therefore the choice of Hon. Ben Kalu as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives is a round peg in a round hole

“Benjamin Kalu was elected to represent the good people of Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State in the 2019 General Elections and sworn in to office on June 11, 2019. He was re-elected to the same office in the 2023 General Election. He is currently the Spokesperson of the House of Representatives at the Nigeria National Assembly as the House Committee Chairman, Media and Public Affairs. His wealth of experience has been resourceful to the major committees of the House where he serves as a member; Defence, Airforce, Navy, National Security and Intelligence, Agricultural Services, Health Institutions and Health Services, Basic Education, Federal Judiciary, Petroleum Upstream, Climate Change, Federal Character, Pensions and other Adhoc Committees such as the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), among others.

“He participated in different stakeholders’ meetings, where strategic decisions were taken, why such decisions were taken and their impact in the overall interest of the nation sank well with him and it has become an unforgettable experience. It is trite to say that in the 9th Assembly, he acquired matchless experiences, which make him the best man (from the South East) for the job.

“As a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, has been involved in series of complex international business structuring from start-up, negotiation, pre and post incorporation stages. He has been engaged in international trade, import and export financing. He has handled series of financing deals for marine vessels’ purchases and documentations, which involved syndication with multilateral finance institutions and local banks.

Before settling down for the practice of law, Benjamin Kalu had built international businesses from start-up to international recognition. His communication skills within the public and private sector acquired through years of experience in both sectors is an advantage to the value he will create as the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

“His experience in government and governmental affairs will assist him in upholding the interdependence of the arms of the government while upholding most importantly, the independence of the Legislature.”

Recall that APC leadership had on May 8, 2023, released the zoning arrangement comprising: Senate President – (South South) Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Deputy Senate President – (North West) Senator Barau Jubrin (Kano), Speaker, House of Representatives – (North West) Hon. Bass Tajudeen (Kaduna); Deputy Speaker – (South East) Hon. Ben Kalu (Abia).