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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