Igbo Stakeholders Forum, an umbrella body of Igbo professionals, technocrats and leaders of thought, has given reasons why it endorsed Senator Osita Izunaso for the position of President of the 10th Senate.

Speaking Wednesday in an interview with newsmen, the Convener of the group, Prince Nixon Okwara, said that with the tension, as well as division, in the country, having the Senate President from the Southeast, and particularly Senator Osita Izunaso who is loved and has overwhelming support of the majority of Igbo leaders, would help to bring about calmness in the polity.

He said that historically, Nigeria was founded on a tripod of three dominant ethnic groups of Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo.

According to him, since the Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani, which now include the Kanuris, have produced the President and Vice president, equity, justice and good conscience demand that the third highest political office in the country, which is President of the Senate should come from the Southeast

Okwara said that the emergence of Osita Izunaso as the President of the 10th Senate would not only help to bring about stability in the southeast, but would give its people a sense of belonging.

Speaking further, he said that the other reason for endorsing Izunaso for the plum job was because, among all the candidates that have come out to contest for the position, he was the most experienced and also most qualified.

According to him, Izunaso is the only ranking senator in the country’s political history that had worked as a staff of the two chambers of the National Assembly and later served as an elected representative of the people.

He said that in 1992, Izunaso worked as Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Agunwa Anakwe, and later served as the Chief Press Secretary to Chief Evans Enwerem, before being elected into the House of Representatives in 2003 and Senate in 2007.

According to him, as a Senator, Izunaso served as chairman of various committees, including Rules and Business, Local and Foreign Debts, Housing, Gas, Foreign Affairs, Sports Development, among others, and also sponsored many bills and led debates during plenary sessions.

On the relationship between Igbo Stakeholders Forum and the party in power in Lagos State, Okwara said that Igbo stakeholders, being a congregation of professionals, technocrats and leaders of thought, has been partners in progress with the governments in Lagos State.

According to him, the association has partnered with Lagos State government on many developmental projects.

“Since the formation of Igbo stakeholders Forum over a decade ago, we have become partners in progress with Lagos State government. We have collaborated on many developmental and transformational projects. We have succeeded in negotiating with our host communities on sundry issues, including but not limited to political offices, peaceful co-existence,” Okwara said.