Rep: I deserve to be speaker — I defended Tinubu in south-east when it was a taboo

Benjamin Kalu, spokesperson of the house of representatives, says he is interested in becoming the speaker of the 10th assembly.

Kalu spoke on Wednesday while fielding questions from journalists in Abuja.

“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, adding 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.”

‘I DEFENDED TINUBU IN SOUTH-EAST’

Kalu, who is the sole All Progressives Congress (APC) house of representatives member-elect from Abia, said he defended President-elect Bola Tinubu 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.”

Asked if he will take up any other position in the green chamber if the speakership is not zoned to the south-east, Kalu said: “As a party man, I’ll oblige my party.”

“I believe in the supremacy of the party — that is key. You can have your aspiration, you can dream but it must be within the control of the platform for which you got to the house,” he added.