Kalu’s Rise Sparks Ben-Gurion Comparisons
“Who is Benjamin Kalu?
Benjamin Okezie Kalu is Nigeria’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives and a lawmaker representing Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State. Known for his legislative activism and sponsorship of the South East Development Commission bill, he is widely regarded as an influential political voice for the Southeast.
“Why is Benjamin Kalu compared to David Ben-Gurion?
Observers draw parallels between Kalu and David Ben-Gurion due to their shared backgrounds as lawyers, their strategic political leadership, and their roles in championing national or regional development initiatives.
What major initiative is linked to Benjamin Kalu?
Kalu sponsored the bill establishing the South East Development Commission, aimed at addressing infrastructural and developmental challenges in Nigeria’s Southeast region decades after the civil war.”
“History sometimes repeats itself through remarkable personalities. From the founding vision of David Ben-Gurion, the architect of modern Israel, to the rising political influence of Benjamin Okezie Kalu, leadership driven by vision, strategy, and quiet strength continues to shape nations and communities. In Abia State and across Nigeria’s Southeast, many observers are beginning to see striking parallels between these two leaders—two “Bens” separated by geography and history but connected by an uncommon commitment to service, inclusion, and nation-building. As Kalu’s legislative activism and political influence grow, questions are emerging: could Abia be witnessing the rise of its own Ben-Gurion-style statesman?”
By idiosyncratic level of analysis in leadership, David Ben-Gurion, the first Prime Minister of the State of Israel possessed some personality traits and perceptual adaptation similar to Abia-born Deputy Speaker of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu. Incidentally, there is a historical significance attached to the names of the two ‘BENs’. While David Ben-Gurion whose original name was David Gruen but was Hebraized with the adoption of the surname of Joseph Ben-Gurion, the Jewish General of 7.0. C.E., known for leading the historic revolt against Rome, the Deputy Speaker’s first name, Benjamin, one of the smallest tribes of Israel, was famous for producing fierce warriors with ambidextrous mastery: artful slingers and skilled archers. The book of Genesis 49:27 gives a short profile of the tribe thus: “Benjamin is a ravenous wolf; in the morning he shall devour the prey, and at night he shall divide the spoil.”
Though Benjamin Kalu has not led a trenched warfare like the biblical ‘Benjamites’, his tactful finesse and soft power usually hand over victory to him without fisticuffs.
Interestingly, both Ben-Gurion and Ben Kalu trained as lawyers. Their stardom however, was not attained in the courtroom. They gained prominence through service to humanity. As far back as 1906, Ben-Gurion looked homeward and returned from Poland. He was among the early settlers at Yishuv, a Jewish residential territory in Palestine governed by the Ottoman Empire. He pioneered the establishment of a farming community in Petach-Tikva, a sprawling town close to Tel-Aviv. He also led the Zionist movement that worked out the mass return of the Jews from around the world, immediately after the State of Israel was created in 1948. And as the first national entrepreneur, the Jewish returnees looked up to him and resolved to conquer their security pathogens and environmental handicaps.
The young Ben Kalu’s election to the lower chamber of Nigeria’s legislature for the first time in 2019 became a springboard. Although relatively new in the nation’s political firmament, his political sagacity gave him a competitive edge and stood him out. He exceeded expectations in his capacity as the 9th House of Representatives spokesperson. The former Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila had this to say about him: “He is a chairman who continues to think outside the box and who is taking this media committee to a towering height like never before in the national assembly.” As the Deputy Speaker, he has brought uncommon visibility to the office. The country is projected proudly in the comity of nations; the Southeast geo-political zone feels his integrative capacity like a melting-pot; the shoulders of Abians are high that a Daniel has come to judgment; just as his legislative strides festoon the already feathered cap of his Bende Federal Constituency.
For the physical survival of his people surrounded by hostile neighbours, Ben-Gurion was at different times the Defense Minister of the State of Israel. He stepped into the big shoes of his role model and harped on the urgency of building up their strengths “in every area and on all fronts.” On the other hand, Ben Kalu’s front-row position in the political hierarchy of the nation is used to reposition Ndigbo in the mainstream of the national political economy. He understands the feelings of exclusion at home and he works to assuage the real and imaginary pains. Through his respected voice, legislative craftmanship, and unfettered access to the policy arena, the cause of his people is always on the table, and not the menu. Like Gurion, Kalu is a rallying point to the ancient and modern political class in Abia State. He dignifiedly leads from the front with little or no ruffling of feathers.
In terms of human security, Ben-Gurion’s passion for changing the fortunes of his people was exceptional. Water scarcity was a direct threat to food production and agribusiness in Israel. But against capture by experts, he insisted and tackled the challenge of semi-arid areas by building and extending water pipes from the Sea of Galilee in the northern part of the country to the highly populated Negev Desert in the south, a distance of about 250 kilometers. Hence, 80% of the water was channeled to agriculture while 20% was for drinking.
For Ben Kalu, the hangover of the Nigerian civil war which ended over five decades ago, remained an emotive issue among every full-blooded Igbo. Forget political correctness! But like an idea whose time had come, the South East Development Commission (SEDC) bill sponsored by him received legislative passage and presidential assent with minimal red tape. Consequently, SEDC, as a federal interventionist agency came on stream to address the scorched-earth drawbacks of the unfortunate war. Taken from the prism of operational balance, Ben-Gurion’s membership of the Knesset (Israel’s unicameral legislature) and Ben Kalu’s status as an astute parliamentarian have helped in reaching the critical mass for both countries.
Notably, Ben-Gurion was a shrewd talent-spotter. As a farmer who nursed the vision of making Israel an agricultural powerhouse, he made sure that half of his cabinet was made up of farmers. Even the third and fifth prime ministers had more than passing interest in agriculture. Either by bedroom whispers or an extempore public assessment, no objective mind would accuse Ben Kalu of not having a knack for lifting up others. He does not suffer from the phobia of insecurity. Neither has he undermined others to remain a superstar. Rather, he willingly positions people rightly. What he did with the SEDC appointments reflects his fair-mindedness and respect for inclusivity. Of course, there is power in a name. Okezie means: a fair distributor of collective resources.
Without equivocation, Ben Kalu is full of steeze as a born leader. He commands a stylish confidence in speech, carriage, networking, and consensus-building. This piece is not about what may or may not be his ambition, but about highlighting worthy lessons on how to become a statesman. Today, Ben-Gurion is revered as the “Father of Israeli Nation” because of how he helped to shape the country from its embryonic stage.
Written by:
Jasper Uche
