Right activist urges Deputy Speaker to resolve issue raised

2026-03-12 - 14:28

By Jimitota Onoyume Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives , Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has been urged to urgently resolve the issue around his document brought to attention by some groups and a lawyer to save his name and office from embarrassment. International rights activist, Alhaji Musa Saidu said it was sad that the issue was lingering for too long , urging the National Assembly and the leadership of his political party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, to wade into the matter . Saidu who is the President, the International Human Rights Commission, Ecology and Marine, said the issue was already raising questions, recalling that since a former Minister in the federal government resigned recently over allegation of certificate forgery the matter had been laid to rest. “The allegations over the personal documents of the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives Benjamin Kalu , has dominated the media space . This only came up when he probably showed interest to be a governor in his state . What I am saying is that he should take steps to resolve the issue through the appropriate channels. “If you hold any public office you have to maintain the dignity of the office . The House of Representatives should wade into the matter. He is a high ranking citizen of the country in the order of protocol. “Since a former minister resigned when allegations of certificate forgery came up against him the issue has died down. APC should also look into this matter involving the deputy speaker . If he continues to hang on to the office of the deputy speaker when the matter is unresolved it raises questions. ” As an international rights activist I speak truth to power” he said. A former Vice president of the Nigerian Bar Association, John Aikpokpo-Martins Esq, had in a petition to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary committee , alleged that the deputy speaker participated in the National Youth service corps almost at the same time he was in the law school an act he alleged violated the NYSC Act. However the LPDC in media reports dismissed the allegation, saying that no prima facie case was established.