Minister of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris Ngige, has thrown his weight behind former governor of Abia State, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu to lead the ninth assembly as Senate President, Igbere TV reports.
This is coming less than 72 hours after the former governor was issued with a certificate of return by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Igbere TV reports that the commission, had on Thursday, issued Kalu and other Senators-elect certificates at the International Conference Centre, ICC, in Abuja.
Shortly after receiving his certificate, Kalu declared that he would be the voice of the South East and Nigerians at large.
“I will be representing the good people of Abia North Senatorial district. The journey towards qualitative and quantitative representation just started. By the grace of God and with your support, I will be the voice of Ndigbo and Nigerians at large.”
Ngige’s decision comes on the heels of renewed call for the zoning of Office of the Senate President to the South East.
Igbere TV reports that hundreds of progressive Nigerians both home and abroad, and interest groups across various ethnic groups, have called for the zoning of Senate Presidency to the South East.
This is even as about 98 per cent of these groups and individuals are drumming support for, and tipping Dr. Kalu for the position.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen on Sunday, Ngige, a former governor of Anambra State, said he supports the call for the Senate President position to be zoned to the South East.
He said that Kalu is fully qualified for the position and should be considered by his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Ngige said, “We have someone that is ranking now (from the South East).
“We have Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu. He was a legislator in the Federal House of Representatives during the military regime, it’s counted, because it was a National Assembly, so he has got some ranking.
“Therefore, Orji Uzor Kalu is qualified to be the next Senate President.”
“We also have Ben Uwajimogu, he is now a two-term Senator, he is coming back from the ruling party.”
