The member representing Ideato North/South federal constituency of Imo State in the House of Representatives, Hon. Ikenga Ugochinyere, has said that Deputy Speaker of the House Benjamin Okezie Kalu, enjoyed maximum confidence of southern political class because of his leadership style and character.
Ugochinyere, who is the chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), in a statement issued in Abuja on Tuesday, noted that Kalu was building sustainable bridges for emerging leaders from the South-East region.
Ugochinyere lauded the deputy speaker’s role in establishment of the South-East Development Commission (SEDC), which is a recipe for the reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation of the once war-torn region and other legislative praxis such as committee integration.
He also commended Kalu’s tireless efforts in bringing peace to the region through his initiative, Peace in South-East Project (PISE-P), a peace-building and development programme designed to address the complex socio-economic challenges and security issues facing the Southeast region of Nigeria.
According to him, the deputy speaker has also, more than any South-East leader, presently taken upon himself the duty of clamouring for the release of the leader of the proscribed Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, from detention as panacea for peace in the South-East.
“The Deputy Speaker of the 10th House of Representatives, the Rt Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, enjoys maximum confidence of southern political class because of his leadership style and character. He is also building sustainable bridges for emerging leaders from the region.
“His role in the passage and assent to the bill which has established South-East Development Commission (SEDC). With this commission whose board has been constituted and confirmed by the National Assembly with over N340 billion allocated to it in the 2025 Appropriation Bill presently before the parliament to long walk to the reconstruction, rehabilitation and reconciliation of the once war-torn region is almost completed.
“A man of peace, Kalu has been at the forefront of the return of peace to our geopolitical zone. For instance, the Peace in South East Project (PISE-P), an initiative of the Deputy Speaker, is a peace-building and development program designed to address the complex socio-economic challenges and security issues facing the South East region of Nigeria.
“Developed in response to the growing impact of agitations, economic decline, and security threats, PISE-P seeks to restore peace and stimulate development through a multi-stakeholder approach. The impact of PISE-P is already being felt in the region just a year since coming into existence.
“Beyond PISE-P, the deputy has been taken upon himself the duty of clamoring for the release of the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention as panacea for peace in the southeast. Few days ago, he appealed to President Bola Tinubu to temper justice with mercy and release the leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB), Mazi Nnamdi Kanu from detention.
“Kalu had noted that when Kanu is released, insecurity in the region will be reduced and as well, spring up development that the SEDC is going to bring.”