The emergence of Hon Benjamin Kalu as the Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives has continued to generate interest and accolades across party lines in Abia.
Kalu, who represents Bende federal constituency, was elected for a second term in the 2023 general election and is the only Abia lawmaker in the Green Chamber of the National Assembly on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
But with his new status as the House Deputy Speaker, politicians from rival parties are as happy as those in APC as they welcomed the choice of Kalu for the number two principal officer of the House.
The governorship candidate of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) in the 2023 poll, Dr Ukpai Iro Ukpai lauded Hon Kalu’s emergence as Deputy Speaker of the House, describing it as “a huge achievement for Abia”.
In a congratulatory message to the Deputy House Speaker, Ukpai said that Kalu was well primed for his new position given overall performance in his first term in the 9th House of Representatives.
“This is well deserved given the manner Hon Kalu discharged his duties as the spokesperson of the 9th House and as Representative for Bende Federal Constituency,” he said.
The NNPP gubernatorial flag bearer expressed optimism that Kalu “will not rest on (his) tested oars as we Abians, Igbos, and Nigerians expect a superlative performance from you and the 10th House of Representatives”.
He further reminded the Depty House Speaker that Bende federal constituency and Abia State expect more dividends of democracy from him, praying God to bless Mr. Deputy Speaker and grant him “wisdom and bountiful grace”.
In his reaction, a chieftain of the All Progressives Grand Alliance ( APGA), Chief Chikwe Udensi noted that though the post of Deputy House Speaker is number six in the order of national protocol, it is still a very important one.
Udensi, who was speaking on a radio programme in Umuahia Wednesday, insisted that the character of the person occupying a position matters more than the ranking of the position in order of protocol.
“You can have the number one position but if the person is a lousy character, the people will not benefit. But Hon Kalu has a good character and will perform creditably,” he said.