Deputy Speaker Meets Ganduje, Appeals For More Ministerial Slots For South-East

Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu has emphasized the need for equitable ministerial representation for the South-East region.

Naija News gathered that Kalu conveyed his concerns during a visit to APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje.

Of the 48 ministers appointed, the South-East received only 5 slots, despite other regions receiving a higher count.

Kalu insisted, “the South-East region deserved more,” urging for fairness in line with the federal character principle.

He said, “We are raising the lobbying for more for South East. You know, we are like the Oliver Twist. While thanking Mr. President for remembering us despite all odds and despite our contributions to the last election, he remembered us by ensuring that I also emerged as the deputy speaker of the house, for which the region is very grateful to Mr president. But we are also asking him, because he is a man that we know is magnanimous, to look into increasing the members of ministerial positions for the region.

“In addition, we also came to discuss other pertinent issues that will affect the growth of the party, the nation and as well as my region and we had a good time discussing those issues. The issue of national balancing, loyalty and cohesion in the country in the spirit of the Constitution with regards to federal character, the way and manner appointments and projects are done. We also deliberated on that to see that the balancing will increase national cohesion.

“I took the time to thank him and Mr President for finding a lot of young people worthy to be in government now as ministers and also women inclusion that has been preached over and over again and was part of the constitutional review that went to the former president that was not assented to. We are hoping that his Presidency will be looking into that as I lead the parliament in the House of Representatives on constitutional review, it will be one of the issues we will be re-presenting to the president on the need to include more women in what we are doing.

“I want to thank him for my sister who was found worthy to be on board, Honorable Nkiru Onyejeocha, other members of the Parliament like Tunji Ojo, Dr Sununu, and all the members of the parliament that have been considered worthy, to help in piloting the affairs of the country.”