By JOHN ONAH, Abuja –
Ahead the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, some first term senators-elect from North East and North Central are rooting for the emergence of former Abia state Governor and Senate’s Majority Senator Orji Uzor Kalu as the next senate President, describing him as bridge builder whose businesses and investments have created employments for people across the country and even beyond not minding there states of origin .
The senators-elect are also of the opinion that, for the purposes of equity and inclusivity as well as parliamentary procedures, it will be appropriate to elevate the Senate’s Chief Whip to the position of President of Senate as the most ranking senator of the All Progressives Congress from the South East .
The senators-elect also expressed confidence that placating the South East zone who have lost out of the Presidency will provide the country an opportunity to heal and clam frayed nerves .
A Senator-Elect from North East and his colleague from North Central who pleaded anonymity because they are not officially permitted to speak commended the efforts of the APC National Working Committee as well as the President,Vice President ,President -Elect and Vice President-Elect for their efforts in ensuring that the APC goes into the election of Presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly as one united house .
The senator-Elect from North East maintained that ,”We are consulting steadily and will go public should our party fails to do what is right ,because we want a One-Nigeria built on equity ,not winners take-All situation. The South East should take the Senate Presidency and we are glad that the party has already take steps to do what is right. Senator Kalu is a Pan-Nigerian who schooled and mingled in the North ,as Governor of Abia state he treated all Nigerians equally ,as Senate majority Whip his doors are opened to all Nigerians , as we speak he has aides from other parts of the country ,his business from the Sun Newspapers and many others have people across the country at the top.
“These are same tendencies with the President-Elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu who picks and chooses people regardless of where they come from. That’s the type of team we want in today’s Nigeria and dispensation, so we feel it is time to think Nigeria and wade off any premodal and parochial sentiment “.
According to the lawmakers , the crisis in the South East is predicated largely on the perception that the zone is been marginalized, adding that ,the current leadership of Nigeria is presented with an opportunity to reset and douse tension by considering the South East and somebody with the capacity to speak to restive youths.
“So what we are saying is this , should the APC fail to officially zone the Senate Presidency to the South East ,which will confer the due advantage to senator Uzor Kalu Orji as the most ranking member of the APC in South East ,we will be disappointed, we will make our disappointment public.
So it is our hope and believe that the party avoids bubble traps. We therefore urge our party to be firm on this ,so that the opposition does not infiltrate our ranks like what happened in 2015 with Senator Bukola Saraki and Ike Ekweremadu did”.
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