Spokesperson of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, says he defended the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the southeast when doing such was a taboo.
Kalu stated this on Wednesday while declaring his intention to run for the House of reps speakership position.
Kalu, who is the sole All Progressives Congress (APC) house of Representatives member-elect in Abia, said he defended Bola Tinubu in Abia even when “it was like a taboo to do so” in the south-east.
The legislator said his office in Abia was targeted with bullets because he supported the APC and Tinubu, adding that he should be rewarded with the speakership position.
“The APC gave me a platform. I was the only member of APC that fought and won for the house of representatives in Abia state,” he said.
“I defended my party, I took bullets for my party, I projected my presidential candidate even when it was like a taboo to do so in the south-eastern region. My office received hundreds of bullets or more because I was preaching APC.
“It is time for a reward. If there is loyalty to the party, loyalty should always be rewarded to stimulate further loyalty. If I stood firm to win for my party in Bende federal constituency, as the only surviving APC house of reps member in the entire Abia state it means that I have something to offer and I defended my party.
“It is time for my party to let my people know that I didn’t make any mistake by standing by the party. Let them give us what is my due based on my qualification.”
Speaking on his intention to run for the speakership position, Kalu said, “The speculation out there as to whether or not I have shown interest to contest for the speakership for the 10th assembly is true,” Kalu said.
“Yes, I’m interested in that position. I’m interested in becoming the next speaker of the House of Representatives.”
Kalu said he is competent to lead the green chamber and that no lawmaker from the south-east has been a speaker in four decades.
He said the country needs to bridge the gap in “diversity insensitivity” to foster cohesion.
Kalu said governors should not “impose” their choice on the members-elect, but should allow them to choose a competent hand.
“We need to have new members buy into our competence to lead. It is not good for leaders at home to impose (someone) that will lead the members of the parliament without the members having any knowledge about who is coming to lead them,” he said.
“I’m bringing on board transformative, and legislative intervention that is based on innovation and it is only people like us who have been equipped that will be able to bridge that gap.”
