Ahead of the June 11 inauguration of the 9th session of the National

Assembly, former Ministers of Labour and Productivity, Science and

Technology, Foreign Affairs and Education (State) as well as Trade,

Investment and Industry, Dr Chris Ngige, Chief Ogbonnaya Onu, Mr.

Geoffrey Onyema, Prof. Anthony Anwuka and Mr. Okechukwu Enelamah

respectively met on Friday, behind closed doors with the National

Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Comrade Adams

Oshiomhole in a bid to cede the position of Deputy Senate President to

the South East.

According to a reliable source at the APC national secretariat, the

former Ministers, who arrived at 2.05pm on Friday, were immediately

ushered into the office of the National Chairman. Confirming the

development, the source stated that the South East is likely to

produce the Deputy Senate President in the interest of fairness,

justice, and equity.

The source, who also confirmed that the meeting, which was held in the

National Chairman’s office, lasted 45 minutes, stressed that the All

Progressives Congress (APC) is desperately making moves to appease

Ndigbo ahead of 2023.

He said: “As the inauguration of the 9th assembly draws nearer, the

APC leadership is leaving no stone unturned in order to protect its

members and Nigerians at large.

“The national chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has met

with former Ministers of the last administration, who are also from

the South East. Their deliberations were not unconnected to the

marginalization of the South East in national positions.

“Hence, the APC may eventually zone the position of Deputy Senate

President and ultimately settle for Dr. Orji Kalu, who is the

Senator-elect for Abia North Senatorial district. The South East is a

major component of Nigeria and as such should not be denied of its

stake in national polity. For the sake of national unity, all

geographical zones will be given equal opportunities at all levels of

government”

In the same vein, Enugu and Imo State Governors, Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi

and Hon. Emeka Ihedioha have thrown their weight behind the candidacy

of Dr. Orji Kalu for the position of the deputy senate president in

the soon-to-be inaugurated 9th National Assembly. While extolling the

virtues of Kalu, the governors noted that the collective interest of

Nigerians should be placed above selfish ambitions. They called on the

members of the yet-to-be inaugurated National Assembly to bury party

differences for national progress, adding that the political class

must live up to expectations.

The governors, who declared their support for Kalu as Deputy Senate

President, urged the Senator-elect, Abia North senatorial district, to

sustain his patriotic strides across the country.

Earlier, the duo of former Senate President and former Governor of

Enugu state, Chief Ken Nnamani and Chief Chimaroke Nnamani

respectively had called for support for Dr. Kalu’s ambition for the

position of Deputy Senate President. The two politicians, while

describing Kalu as a good choice for the position, called on Ndigbo to

support the Abia state born politician in his quest to clinch the seat

of the deputy senate president.

Also rooting for Kalu are some Emirs in the North. Confirming the

development, a close ally of a respected Emir in the North West,

stressed that the choice of Kalu is borne out of the former governor’s

goodwill across the board. He noted that Kalu, though a Catholic and

Igbo by origin, has a close relationship with people of other tribes.

The former governor, who is said to be reaching out to political

associates, friends and leaders of the APC, has promised to bring to

bear his political and business acumen in the national assembly if he

is given the opportunity to serve as deputy senate president.

In the same vein, a pan Nigeria group, National Alliance For Equity

and Justice, yesterday, charged the All Progressives Congress (APC),

senators-elect and other stakeholders to support the former governor

of Abia State, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu to emerge as the Deputy Senate

President, in the interest of equity and fair play.

The group in a statement jointly signed by Mazi Chukwuemeka Nwosu, Hon

Akinola Akinyemi and Alhaji Hassan Jubril said electing Kalu, who is

the senator-elect for Abia North, as Deputy Senate President will

reflect balance and federal character in the distribution of principal

officers in the Ninth Assembly. It noted that the former Abia governor

has worked hard to popularise the APC in the South east since he

joined the party, as well as for the success of President Muhammadu

Buhari in the 2019 presidential poll.

According to the group, electing Kalu as Deputy Senate President, will

go a long way to entrench the ruling party in the South East

geopolitical zone, ahead of the 2023 polls, as the former commands a

large followership within and outside the zone. Besides, it noted that

Kalu as Deputy Senate President will add value to the National

Assembly and the Buhari administration.

“Uzor-Kalu is a detribalised Nigerian leader, a fact reflected in the

number of friends he has across Nigeria and beyond, the different

chieftaincy titles he was found worthy to be bestowed upon across the

four corners of Nigeria.

“He is patriotic, outspoken and a goal getter with experience and

capacity to engender consensus among contending interests. “Apart from

his successful foray into politics, Uzor Kalu is also an astute

businessman and publisher who have contributed to national economic

development in various ways. We believe that Uzor Kalu will make a

good deputy senate president and will complement the distinguished

Senator Ahmed Lawan as the Senate President.

“Uzor Kalu has demonstrated leadership whether you consider his forays

in politics, business, philanthropy or youth empowerment and we are

sure that his emergence as the senate president will be added value to

the National Assembly and the President Muhammadu Buhari’s

administration,” the group stated. (Saturday Sun)

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