The deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Benjamin Kalu, has encouraged President Bola Tinubu and the APC leadership to raise the number of cabinet slots for the South-East in the sake of equity and federalism.
On Thursday, Kalu paid a visit to Dr. Abdullahi Ganduje, the APC’s national chairman, at the party secretariat.
Tinubu’s list of 48 ministerial nominees included 10 from the North-West, 8 from the North-East, 8 from the North-Central, 9 from the South-West, 9 from the South-South, and 5 from the South-East.
Following his meeting with Ganduje, Kalu, a member of the House of Representatives representing Abia State’s Bende Federal Constituency, told the media that the region deserved additional cabinet positions.
He said, “We are raising the lobbying for more (ministerial slots) for the South-East. You know, we are like 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 member of ministerial positions for the region.”
Kalu further noted he also discussed with Ganduje “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, of 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,” he said.
