EXTRA: I and Abbas haven’t slept for days — we’re lobbying for support, says Ben Kalu

Benjamin Kalu, an aspirant for the deputy speakership position in the house of representatives, says he is enduring sleepless nights lobbying for support from members.

Kalu spoke on Thursday while fielding questions from journalists after he and Tajudeen Abbas visited President Bola Tinubu at the presidential villa.

The All Progressives Congress (APC) had nominated Abbas and Kalu for the positions of speaker and deputy speaker of the house of representatives.

The 10th national assembly will be inaugurated on June 13 and election for senate president and deputy will take place on the same day.

A group of six aspirants had opposed Abbas and Kalu’s nominations.

Kalu said he and Abbas have “not slept for days” and have been traversing the country to seek support.

“This man (Abbas) has not slept for days. I have not slept. We have been going around trying to make sure that, granted that the party has given us the platform is not conceding that it is sufficient for us to go to bed and sleep,” he said.

“We are lobbying these members and begging them (to) come over to our direction and let’s make Nigeria a great nation. We are talking to all the members and we are hoping that at the end of the day, we will get what we are looking for.”

Kalu also said there will be “parliamentary sovereignty” if he and Abbas are elected.

“Sovereignty that will ensure that the borders of the mandate of the various arms of government will be respected,” he said.

The lawmaker said while the legislature will maintain its independence, it will work with the executive to achieve a “national objective”.

“We’re going to ensure that though we are three arms of government, we understand that we are one government. So the national objective of the executive, if it is what the people want, will remain the national objective of the legislature,” Kalu said.

“We’re bringing on board the balancing of inequalities that exists within our society. So Nigerians should rest assured that innovations, transformations, and reforms are going to be introduced by us.

“This will not go without saying that the principles of checks and balances and the doctrine of separation of powers will be duly observed.”