Former Senator representing Abia Central, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, has commended the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, PhD, LL.D, CFR, for what she described as his outstanding leadership and tangible contributions to the development of Abia State.
Senator Nwaogu gave the commendation on Thursday during a New Year courtesy visit by the Deputy Speaker to her residence in Aba, Abia State. The former lawmaker, who previously served in the House of Representatives before her tenure in the Senate, expressed deep appreciation for Kalu’s role in ensuring that federal government policies and projects reach communities at the grassroots level.
She particularly highlighted the impact of the Deputy Speaker’s interventions in Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area, her home council, noting that residents had benefited immensely from federal initiatives facilitated through his office, even though the area falls outside his federal constituency.
Speaking during the visit, Senator Nwaogu reflected on Abia State’s representation at the federal level over the years, questioning the limited opportunities the state had enjoyed in terms of appointments and access to federal resources.
“From 1999 to date, how many times, or how many federal commissioners have we had in Abia State? How many have we had from Abia State as federal commissioners, except the one that has been done constitutionally?” she asked.
She described the Deputy Speaker as a unifying figure whose leadership had helped bridge long-standing gaps between federal governance and local communities across the state.
“Deputy Speaker, I want to express profound appreciation for all the things you have been extending to Osisioma Ngwa Local Government Area outside your federal constituency,” she said. “We have been beneficiaries of the good things that have been coming from the federal government through you, and I am saying thank you. It is because we have somebody like you.”
Senator Nwaogu further praised Kalu for strengthening the presence and visibility of the All Progressives Congress in Abia State, noting that under his watch, federal government programmes had reached communities across all the state’s wards.
“For the first time in the history of the APC, we have had government policies trickle down to the last one hundred and eighty-four wards of Abia State,” she said. “I am saying may God reward you in Jesus’ name.”
She stressed that her remarks were not driven by courtesy or sentiment but by what she described as verifiable achievements and concrete outcomes.
“I’m not saying this because we are here. I’m saying the obvious. I’m stating the fact,” she noted. “Through you, we have been blessed with things and benefits too many to mention as I stand here.”
Looking ahead to the 2027 general elections, Senator Nwaogu expressed confidence that the Deputy Speaker’s influence and impact would only grow, bringing even more benefits to Abia communities and beyond.
“And I know that as we go forward to 2027, what you have even done will just be a sample, that many more will be coming,” she said. “I pray that God keeps you alive, with favours from above, so that as you receive, you will, as you have always done, extend it to Osisioma Ngwa and beyond.”
The visit underscored growing collaboration among senior political figures in Abia State and highlighted the increasing focus on grassroots development as a benchmark for political leadership and public service.
