Benjamin Kalu: Mega Star of South East Politics
By Bamidele Atoyebi
In a moment of national pride and regional upliftment, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has been conferred with the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR), one of Nigeria’s highest national honours by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Democracy Day 2025.
The well deserved honour is as a result of Kalu’s transformative leadership style and rising political profile, especially in bridging the long-standing political gap between the South East and other regions in the nation.
Kalu, whose tenure as Deputy Speaker has been marked by calm diplomacy and developmental focus, has emerged as a unifying figure not only within his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), but also among relevant political stakeholders in the South Eastern region of the nation. The CFR honour he received has been tagged as a symbolic breakthrough following the belief by some persons that the region has been marginalized in national affairs.
Some analysts posited that while the South East has long produced bold and passionate political voices, many of it’s leaders have relied on confrontational and undiplomatic strategies that has led to political alienation, and violence. However, Kalu’s approach grounded in negotiation, loyalty, and inclusion has charted a new path for the region.
“From initiating the “Peace in South East Project”, to helping secure the long-awaited South East Development Commission, Kalu has proven that discretion, diplomacy, and strategic leadership can achieve what agitation could not,” a political observer said.
His rise, once met with disappointment by some who had expected a higher appointment, has turned into a case study in tactical political navigation. His leadership has spurred a new wave of cooperation among South East stakeholders, who are now meeting and planning around a shared vision of integration and development.
Kalu’s ability to build bridges across political divides and ethnic lines has earned comparisons to the South West’s long-standing non-confrontational political strategy an approach that has consistently brought development and federal inclusion to the region.
This stands in contrast to past leadership styles in the South East, where figures like Odimegwu Ojukwu, Nnamdi Kanu, Ike Ekweremadu, and Peter Obi faced criticism for approaches that either led to confrontation, underutilized opportunities, or fostered division along ethnic and religious lines.
Kalu, on the other hand, is credited with restoring confidence in federal processes and reminding the South East that political progress requires alignment, patience, and strategy. His influence continues to grow as traditional rulers and political actors increasingly rally around his message, with even state leaders being urged to align with the centre for sustainable development.
As one of the most measured, effective, and visionary voices from the south eastern, Benjamin Kalu is not just representing the region, he is also reimagining it’s political future.
With his CFR honour, the nation has affirmed what many in his region already know: that a new dawn is here, and at its centre shines a star steady, luminous, and unyielding.
Congratulations to the bright and morning star of South East.
Bamidele Atoyebi, the Convenor of the BAT Ideological Group, engages in accountability and policy monitoring while also serving as a social worker, criminologist, maritime administrator, and philanthropist. He writes from Abuja
