Senate Presidency: Kalu Speaks, Tells President Buhari What To Do
By Ogochukwu Isioma
All Progressives Congress (APC) House of Rep member elect, Bende Federal Constituency in Abia State, Barr. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has joined the millions of voices who are calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to zone the office of Senate President to the South East.
Kalu made the call in an exclusive interview with Igbere TV on Friday in Bende, Abia State.
Barr. Benjamin Kalu
Igbere TV reports that hundreds of progressive Nigerians both home and abroad, and interest groups, have renewed call for the zoning of Senate Presidency to the South East.
This is even as about 98 per cent of these groups and individuals have been drumming support for, and tipping former Governor of Abia State and Senator-elect, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu for the position.
Speaking with Igbere TV, Kalu called on the North to support the South East to produce Senate President, saying, “for us to feel that sense of belonging and unity, the distribution of power should not be lopsided.”
“We (South East) supported them (North) to get the Presidency. The PDP came to us and threw up mediocre that they wanted to make us Vice President but we ignored them and followed the man we believe in from the North. It’s time for them to reciprocate and give us at least the third position in the country. We said no to becoming the second citizen, which would have affected President Buhari’s re-election. So, the North should reciprocate, they should give the South East Senate Presidency,” Kalu told Igbere TV.
When asked who he would support for the position from the South East, the legal practitioner threw his weight behind Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, insisting that he’s the most qualified from the zone.
He said, “Before now, they claim there is none qualified from the South East to occupy such exalted position but the story is different now because we are well able to do so. For the first time, we in Abia for instance, gave the President 26 per cent votes.
“We have a candidate for that job. We have the most qualified and competent hand. And this will not be his first time of going to the National Assembly. I am talking about Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, one of the foremost lawmaker that was elected into the National Assembly in the nineties. He wasn’t just an ordinary member, but he added value. It’s on record that Dr. Kalu sponsored the bill for dual citizenship which later became law.
“Based on ranking, as he’s going back to the National Assembly, he’s qualified as a former member of the National Assembly and two-time governor of a state. And there’s nothing, based on experience and exposure from the private and public sector and even the act of law making, that stops Orji Kalu from occupying that position, efficiently.
“So, I’m calling on Nigerians to make this happen. It will be a balance distribution of power. The North should support us, the South East, to produce not Deputy President, but President of the Senate for us to feel that sense of belonging and unity,” Barr. Kalu added.
