The Association of Nigerian Licensed Customs Agents (ANLCA) has thrown its weight behind the All Progressives Congress (APC) choice of Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu as Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives (HoR).
Following the zoning formula released by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling APC after consulting President Bola Tinubu, Kalu representing Bende Federal Constituency, Abia State was identified as the Deputy Speaker-designate of the HoR in the 10th Assembly.
Stakeholders from different sectors have applauded the ruling party for making a very good choice.
ANLCA, in a press statement issued by the Senior Special Assistant (SSA), Media and Public Affairs to the National President, Barr. Val Iwuchukwu extolled the virtue of Hon Kalu.
The statement reads: “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 into office on the 11th of June 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 of 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 like the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) etc.
“He sat in different stakeholder meetings where strategic decisions were taken, why such decisions were taken and its impact on 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 experience which makes him the best man (from the South East) for the job”.
The group further said: “He is a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Nigeria who has been involved in a series of complex international business structuring from start-up, negotiation, pre and post-incorporation stages. He has been engaged in international trade, and import and export financing.
“He has handled a series of financing deals for marine vessel purchases and documentation which involved syndication with multilateral finance institutions and local banks. Before settling down for the practice of law, Benjamin built international businesses from start-up to international recognition.
“His communication skills within the public and private sectors 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” the statement concluded.
It will be recalled that on May 8, 2023, APC leadership released the zoning arrangement as follows: 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).
Ismail Aniemu, Publisher of JournalNG and ghostwriter, is a maritime journalist with over two decades of practice with a multidisciplinary background. He holds a master’s degree in Transport Management from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology(LAUTECH) with a bias for logistics. He is also an alumnus of the Times Journalism Institute where he obtained a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.
