A prominent support group of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), under the auspices of United Nigeria Movement (UNM), has thrown its weight behind the aspiration of the former Abia State governor, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, to occupy the Senate Presidency of the 10th National Assembly come June 13th.
UNM expressed its support for Kalu during a congress held in Kano State at the weekend, saying that he is not only the most qualified for the exalted office, but committed to national development among the aspirants.
In a communique signed by its Secretary, Abdullahi Nuhu, the group asked the party’s leadership and its President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to, without hesitation zone the position of the Senate President to the South East.
Anchoring its position on national interests of peace, stability and unity, the party faithfuls explained that the South East having missed out in producing the No. 1 citizen of the country despite the agitation for equity and fairness, should be compensated with the position of the Senate President.
The group specifically named the Abia North Senator, who is the current Senate Chief Whip as the most qualified to preside over the 10th Senate, insisting that “being a high ranking lawmaker with executive and parliamentary leadership experiences, he is most qualified to head the Red Chamber.”
Apart from Kalu’s devotion to party loyalty and national unity, the group also stressed the need to balance the political equation of the country under the administration of the President-elect, Asiwaju Tinubu by giving a sense of belonging to the South East especially of Igbo extraction by unanimously endorsing the former Abia State governor to be next Senate President unopposed.
The communique reads in part: “The president-elect (Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu), the national party leadership and all other stakeholders must in the national interests of peace, stability and unity in the next democratic dispensation to commence May 29, 2023, zone the position of the Senate President to the South East.
“The Chief Whip of the Senate of the 9th National Assembly, Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who won re-election to once again, represent Abia North in the Red Chamber in the upcoming 10th National Assembly being a high ranking lawmaker from the South East is the right person for the Senate Presidency.
“This is not only because he is from South East and is an Igbo man, but most importantly because of his wealth of experience in the Senate, leadership skills and good relationships with all parts of the country having schooled in Maiduguri, Borno State and established his business first in Lagos and spread it across all the state capitals of the federation. Thus, we fondly nicknamed him Mr. Nigeria.
“As APC members and well meaning Nigerians, we are highly concerned about the urgent need to balance the political equation of this country under the able leadership of the President-elect, the Jagaban, Asiwaju Tinubu by carrying along our brothers in the South East, especially of Igbo extraction by honorably and unanimously given Distinguished Senator Kalu the chance to be next Senate President unopposed.
“This will no doubt give everybody a sense of belonging in this country and promote the much-needed political stability in the polity as we are about to witness the first Muslim president and Muslim vice-president administration since the return to democracy in the ongoing 4th Republic.
“Considering the legislative dexterity, intellectual capacity, moral groundings, listening habit and simplicity of the Distinguished Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, we are convinced that he is the most qualified of all the aspirants of the Senate Presidency chair.
“Therefore, we wish to call on all the contestants, all the senators-elect across all political parties, the incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari, the president in waiting, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, APC national leadership and all the well-meaning Nigerians to, as a matter of patriotism support the candidature of Kalu for Senate President in unison and unconditionally.”
