Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, member representing Bende Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, has reacted to the exclusion of South East from presiding offices of the 9th National Assembly.

Igbere TV had reported that the inauguration of the 9th Assembly held on Tuesday, June 11, which saw the emergence of presiding officers in the two legislative chamber.

For the Senate, while Ahmad Lawan from Yobe (North) emerged as Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta (South) clinched on to the Deputy Senate President seat.

Similarly, for the House of Representatives, while Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos (West) emerged as Speaker, Idris Wase from Plateau (North) clinched on to the Deputy Speaker seat.

This development saw the exclusion of the South East geopolitical zone from the distribution of key leadership positions in the 9th NASS.

Also, in the executive arm, while President Muhammadu Buhari is from Katsina (North), Vice President Yemi Osinbajo is from Lagos (West).

For the judiciary arm, a Northerner, Justice Tanko Mohammed currently presides as the Chief Justice of Nigeria. A check on the list of Supreme Court Justices also showed that no Easterner currently presides as a Chief Judge.

Reacting, Benjamin Kalu, an All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmaker, described the development as a sad one.

He said it was sad that the South East pushed for key leadership positions in the 9th National Assembly but ended up not getting any.

Kalu, who spoke in an exclusive interview with Igbere TV moments after his inauguration in Abuja, however assured that negotiations are top gear to get other principal positions for the South East zone.

He called on the Igbo nation to participate in mainstream politics, in subsequent times, adding that alienating themselves from Nigerian politics will do no good but further harms.

Kalu said: “We are not also happy about it. We are not happy that we made efforts for us to occupy some key positions and couldn't get any. But there are other positions coming, we are lobbying to make sure that we get integrated into the mainstream politics in Nigeria.

“This development is also a wake up call to the Igbos not to alienate themselves (from politics), but to participate in what is happening in the Nigerian politics. It is not every time you go hand tie with the system, you go with the flow.

“If you are not well equipped to sustain the temple while going against the flow, why attempt?, because it needs a whole lot of force to go against the current and Igbos don't have it at the moment.

“Until we are together with one voice pursuing one particular goal, understanding that our strength lies in all of us coming together with one voice, with what we have to bring to the centre in diversity, that is only when we can move the Igbo nation forward.

“A situation whereby a “pull him down” syndrome exist, we cannot move forward.

“Where a man is aspiring for a higher position and because you don't just like his face, you want to pull him down, it will not take the community forward. But if we encourage one another, definitely, the strength of one another will be showcased more than the weaknesses.

“What the Igbos have thrived on over the years has been capitalizing and showcasing the weaknesses of their brothers, let us encourage others in every effort they make be it in business, politics or career development. Let us encourage one another to push from one level to another level.

“But there is hope, and we are keeping that hope alive that we are going to get to the place of our dreams. The journey just started.”

On his emergence and inauguration as a lawmaker, Kalu said, “I am not just a Rep member for Bende, I am for the whole nation and very soon we will announce our presence. That will gladden the heart of the people of Bende and the nation as well.”

Asked what his Constituency, Bende should expect in the next four years of his representation, the Bende Federal lawmaker said, “availability.”

“They should expect us to be available, for us to network with them, and be able to represent them very well.

“You know the key functions of the parliament — the legislative, representative and oversight functions — we are going to carry them out effectively.

“But the one that is so dear to my heart is the representative function because that is where people element is so well expressed: where you understand the needs of the people, carry it on your shoulder and bring it down to Abuja to fight for them. That is the one I am interested in.

“I am now concerned with the ecological needs of our people. Erosion is ravaging our place and the roads are being cut into two. We can't access our farms again. Most harvests execution is hard because there are no roads to come back home with the crops home. Somewhere in Nkpa you cannot carry the crops with a vehicle, you have to carry it on your head and swim through a river because there are no roads, erosion have destroyed them.

“But we are pushing, very soon you will start hearing my voice in the National Assembly. We have been preparing and we have prepared couple of bills that we want to propose, motions we are going to announce. We are not going there to sleep, we are going there to showcase both the strengths and weaknesses of Bende.

“Now is the time to serve the people of Bende, the people are waiting. They are hungry for swift delivery of quality service and we are geared up, we are energized. We are passionate about the service that we are going to render, not for self but because the people are in need of it so we have to give it to them. It is not about Benjamin, it is about all of us.

“This is a call to all Bende who have something to offer to come, let's make Bende better. It is not for me to do alone. I want us to join our strength, our wisdom to project our community from where it is to where it ought to be,” Benjamin Kalu added.

http://igberetvnews.com/768172/ben-kalu-reacts-to-exclusion-of-seast-from-9th-nass-leadership/

Noise

South East has been used and dumped by Fulanis

.

Na now una eyes clear..

Anyways leave them because I know they will fail and thereafter be impeached..
Many will soon decamp to PDP..

The drama never ends in Nigeria..

Nigerians.. a quick way to avoid depression.. Get a job that can feed you and your family.. And them watch Nigeria like a REALITY SHOW..

Like if you know that Ahmed Lawan will not be SP till 2023.

We are fine

Some giants you slay others you tame.

We in the South East have to focus on staying alive for the next 4 years, our lives are not valued by the current administration. We should be planning on how to protect ourselves not political seats or appointments.
We have bigger fish to fry.....

Rubbish, all of them are there for their selfish interest.

Moreover, how does that affect the common man on the street. Does that mean if an igbo boy with connect and a hausa or other tribes boys apply for same role, the connection(igbo) boy won't get it or hausa boy with connect apply for the same job with igbo boy n other tribes, the connection(hausa) boy won't get it.

Let the best person for the job get it...

One thing that's sure is when igbo time comes they will be there... Why the fuse?

Hmm

Nyamiri people has started again.

Niger-deltan were not represented in the 8th national assembly , heaven didn't fall. .
I'm beginning to sense that this is the fraud being loaded in biafrauding they are crying and clamouring for. That's ability to grab the power at the centre and dominate other smaller minority ethnic groups in the nation of sovereignty and dismemberment .

Niger-deltan people , eyes open don't allow this dubious sets of ethnic groups to deny you of your inheritance.

Hmm

As it should be, the best men for the job should rule not because of tribe. Those that are there and have been there go and see their villages nothing good. It doesn't mean because a man from my village became president it will become London if that was the case I may understand this tribalism but it's not the case so what's the point?

“What the Igbos have thrived on over the years has been capitalizing and showcasing the weaknesses of their brothers, let us encourage others in every effort they make be it in business, politics or career development. Let us encourage one another to push from one level to another level."

who cares

Na now your eye don clear

Pull off your clothes and go react in the house so your colleagues will know what they have done to you and your south east.

They don't need any key position. Yeasterners are very much satisfied with status quo

Lmao, una go react tire.
“I am now concerned with the ecological needs of our people. Erosion is ravaging our place and the roads are being cut into two. We can't access our farms again. . These are the people threatening to secede from Nigeria when erosion has destroyed nearly half of their land..funny

We ain't interested. Period.
Our businesses are doing great.

APC, NEXT LEVEL OF INTIMIDATIONS AND PROPAGANDAS

When the South East decides to leave they have my blessings. Just use international pressure so we avoid the bloodshed of a war. When the country no want you or give you seat at the table, despite the federal character laws and Buhari's flagrant disregard, make una activate that Biafra.


Now is actually a good time. If you know you know. They can't mobilize to stop you like in the 60s.

I don't really care. And I believe all other Igbo's heart too beats for Biafra.

I wish the stupid South Eastern politicians and toothless governors make a bold move by working together and dropping their greed towards actualization of Biafra, irrespective whether the SS states are in OR ready.

So sad

Crying more than the bereaved. An Ibo man contested and lost doesn't mean they don't participate. Politics is gambling! So he expect Ovie to hand over his victory to Ike? Ibo's are not complaining Pls. They will surly be among the ministers.

What's all this noise about
When the South South was excluded from leadership of the 8th Assembly did they make all this noise

The advice is good. But heeding advice is another thing.


It's sad that the SE has been left far behind in the scheme of things.

It should be a wake up call for the region.

That's good. I am happy for that. This is a sign that. You are not

Does it matter?
We igbos never caution our useless governors like Ikpeazu na federal una dey find! Mtcheeeeeew