By Chimma Josephine
“It is reason, which must guide our deliberations, guide our debate, and guide our decision.” – Barbara Jordan
Ever since his election as a Deputy Speaker and Presiding Officer of the House of Representatives on June 13, 2023, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has displayed calmness and emotional intelligence as well as the temperament required of the role during plenary proceedings.
Elementarily, the presiding officer in the case of the House of Representatives, the Speaker or Deputy Speaker’s duty is to preside over the daily sessions of the House, preserve order in the chamber, direct proceedings amongst others.
The role requires the holder; Speaker or Deputy Speaker to be calm, control his or her emotions and be of good temperament to treat members of his House as equals of which he or she is first amongst them.
Rt. Hon. Kalu, a lawyer and two time member representing, Bende Federal Constituency of Abia State has had encounters while presiding over plenary which tested his calmness and emotional control, but he showed dexterity in all of them.
The Deputy Speaker is known to be warm hearted, affectionate and a lover of peace. He exude kindness and compassion in such an inspiring way!
His love for humanity led him to launch the Benjamin Kalu Foundation many years ago for helping the less privileged.
As a peace advocate, in December 2023, he launched an initiative known as the Peace in South East Project, PISE-P which canvasses the adoption of a non-kinetic approach to resolving the problem of insecurity bedeviling the South East.
The Deputy Speaker said that his goal for initiating Peace In South East Project was also to foster peace, unity and development in the region and promote reconciliation among communities and individuals affected by past conflicts.
This laudable initiative has garnered commendations and support from the presidency and Nigerians from every region of the country. Just recently, on July 8, the Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji (Dr.) Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu during a visit to Deputy Speaker expressed his readiness for a stronger collaboration between the northern and the southern regions with regards to peace and unity of the country.
Speaking through Hon. Ibrahim Bala, a former member of Bauchi State House of Assembly, the Emir said that they heard about the Peace In South East Project and decided to identify with the initiative.
As a presiding officer of the House, Kalu always makes sure that every member is carried along and made to feel at home. While presiding he ensures that the session is participatory allowing ranking and new members to debate on issues.
An instance was seen some weeks back when Hon. Bello El-rufai made a contribution to a motion.
Encouraging him, the Deputy Speaker said, “Very sound presentation, I’m always proud of the young parliamentarians, when you ventilate issues in this manner, it’s very impressive, It’s very impressive.”
Also on May 29th, the Deputy Speaker allowed many members both ranking and new, regardless of party affiliation to robustly contribute to the debate on the nation’s 25 years of unbroken democracy.
Kalu’s competence, capacity, and having good knowledge of legislative processes has never been in doubt. He has efficiently carried out his duties and as well ensured that his colleagues who are first timers are encouraged and well guarded on legislative processes.
In and out of the chambers, he has proven that love is the highest vibration and hate is the lowest, so we benefit ourselves by loving all unconditionally.
However to the surprise and shock of many, on July 2nd, a first time lawmaker Hon. Cyril Hart accused Kalu of marginalising first-timers during debates on the floor of the House
In his response, Kalu stated that all members of the parliament are colleagues and equal irrespective of their political affiliations, economic or social backgrounds.
He said that being a presiding officer, principal officer or chairman of a committee is a privilege granted by both the leave of the House and the mandate of the members, emphasizing that the position does not presuppose superiority.
He therefore stated that there is no discrimination of any member whether old or new, ranking or no ranking.
He further clarified that the row where the member was sitting had earlier been given an opportunity to speak, stressing that other rows also needed to be accommodated.
He emphasized that the 10th House under the able leadership Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas will continue to be fair, just and open to every member and ensure that all voices are heard.
Few days later, at the plenary on July 9, Hon. Philip Agbese, a first timer raised a point of order, stating that his privilege were breached by Hon. Hart, as his claim according to him was not true.
He thereafter demanded an apology from Hart.
Agbese said, “Mr Speaker sometime last week, I was returning from an international parliamentary assignment back to the country when I was confronted by a parliamentarian from Ghana. At the airport in Accra, I was confronted with a question emanating from the conduct or the position of one of my colleagues that new members of this parliament are not allowed to speak.
‘My constituents equally threatened on Facebook and other platforms regretting that they sent a new member to the House. There has never been anytime any new member was not allowed to speak, and not myself. My colleague has injured my reputation, my privilege as a member of this house was breached and I move that the member who made that comment should tender an apology to Me, Chief Philip Agbese and some of my colleagues who feel like they do not belong to that category.”
But Kalu as a peace advocate and a gentleman, appealed for calm, informing the lawmaker that Hon. Hart has tendered an apology privately to him.
Kalu said “the issue you raised about the generalized comment made by one of our colleagues, stating that new members were not allowed to speak, it went viral, this is a global community, they can reach you via internet anywhere you are, information travel very fast. You’re right to say to say that you’re a new member and nobody has shortchanged you, or stopped you from speaking. I know also that the leadership of this house have tried severally to carry the new members along in all things.
“Like I said last week there’s no discrimination in this parliament, we are all colleagues. The hon. Member (Cyril Hart) has tendered an apology to me and I am sure that any member who felt aggrieved he will find time to meet you and apologize to you. It’s a process of learning for new members, we will keep encouraging them and protecting them to feel comfortable whenever they have an issue to raise. Let me maintain, nobody will deny new members their rights in this parliament. Your point of order is hereby sustained.”
The manner and candour in which Kalu handle such issues when they erupt, depicts emotional intelligence which is the ability to recognise, understand and choose how one thinks, feels, and acts; shaping interactions with others and understanding of oneself.
Chimma Josephine writes from Rivers