The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr Benjamin Okezie Kalu, has urged Nigerians to rally behind President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s economic reforms and the reserved seats bill before the National Assembly, describing both as vital to Nigeria’s stability and inclusivity.
Mr Kalu made the call during an engagement with the 2025/2026 cohort of Nigerians at the Harvard Kennedy School in the United States over the weekend.
He said the reforms being championed by the President were designed to drive growth and long-term development, noting that intentional leadership was required to steer Nigeria in the right direction.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is an intentional, deliberate leader who knows the direction he is headed, and he is taking steps to take the country in that direction. That’s the truth. I say this without sounding political, and I will still say what I am saying even if I were not a member of the ruling party or in politics.
“You need to wear your unbiased lens to do your comparative analysis between now and before without sentiments, without trying to sound politically correct. Just view it; you will see. Reformers seek learning and knowledge. I know that once you are a leader, people will try to paint you with different brushes.” Kalu stated
On inclusivity, he highlighted that the reserved seats bill he initiated was part of efforts to give women a stronger voice in national decision-making.
“What this bill seeks to do is to create a space for women. You are thinking of home, and it’s an advantage for Nigeria that those outside the shores of Nigeria have not forgotten Nigeria.”
Mr Kalu noted that Nigerians abroad, including those at Harvard, remained deeply connected to their homeland and eager to contribute to its progress.
With both the reforms and the bill, he said, Nigeria could entrench economic stability while advancing inclusive governance.