The emergence of RT Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu as Leadership Newspaper Legislator of the Year 2025 is more than a celebration of parliamentary accomplishment. It is a national affirmation of principled leadership, moral courage, and visionary public service.
Your RT Honourable, this award reflects the strength of your legislative influence and the clarity of your leadership philosophy. At a time when citizens increasingly demand performance, integrity, and national cohesion from their representatives, your tenure as Deputy Speaker has stood out for its stability, intellectual depth, and strategic direction. You have contributed meaningfully to strengthening the legislature as a dynamic institution that safeguards democracy while advancing national development.
Yet beyond policy and parliamentary responsibility lies a deeper dimension of your impact, your unwavering commitment to your Christian faith. In a political environment often characterized by pressure to conform, you have consistently demonstrated that conviction need not be compromised for relevance. You have shown that it is possible to operate at the highest level of governance while remaining anchored in spiritual discipline and moral accountability.
As a former gubernatorial candidate from Ogun State, I write this tribute from a place of both admiration and personal reflection. During my own political journey, I encountered strong opposition and discouraging narratives suggesting that one could not fully participate in Nigerian politics without compromising Christian values. There were moments when the pressure to “blend in” with prevailing political culture was presented as unavoidable.
In those seasons, I prayed earnestly that I would never disappoint God, that I would remain steadfast regardless of the cost. Observing your leadership today strengthens that conviction. Your example is a living testimony that one can indeed be a light within Nigeria’s political space, that faith and governance are not adversaries but allies when properly aligned.
You are reshaping perception. You are redefining possibility. You are reminding a generation of aspiring leaders that integrity is not weakness, and spirituality is not a limitation in public office. Your visible relationship with God and your disciplined public conduct have positioned you as a credible role model within the Body of Christ and across the broader political community.
This recognition as Legislator of the Year 2025 affirms what many have witnessed, that transformational leadership flows from character before it manifests in policy. Nigeria’s democracy grows stronger when leaders govern from conviction rather than convenience.
Congratulations once again, Your RT Honourable. May this honour mark the beginning of even greater national influence. May God continue to grant you wisdom, courage, and divine guidance as you serve our nation with distinction.
