A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Abia State, Chief Daniel Chiemezie Okeke, has expressed his views on the zoning arrangement of the leadership positions in the Ninth National Assembly, particularly the Senate.
Speaking with Igbere TV on Tuesday, Chief Okeke, who is also the CEO of Swiss Spirit Hotel, said the APC should do the needful by zoning the Deputy Senate President position to the Southeast, in the interest of fairness, equity and justice.
According to him, the Igbos, being among the three major ethnic groups in Nigeria, deserve to have the Deputy Senate Presidency and nothing less.
He called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently zone at least the Deputy Senate Presidency to the South-East.
Okeke said, “This is the time for the APC led government to prove to Nigerians that we are one Nigeria where equity, fairness and justice is practiced in totality. It is not in contention that we have three major ethnic group in Nigeria, the Hausas, Igbos and Yorubas. Anything short of senate president or deputy senate president for the Igbos would be highly resisted.
“We have always known our dear president to be a man of his word. So with humility and honesty, we urge mr president to do the needful by either zoning the senate or deputy senate president to the South-East.”
Speaking further, Chief Okeke said the Easterners have contributed a lot towards the development of the nation, and should be considered in the country’s leadership, specifically the Ninth Assembly.
He lamented the charade witnessed in the outgoing Eight Assembly, and insisted that Senator-elect Dr. Orji Kalu is needed in the Ninth Assembly leadership to bring sanity to NASS.
While acknowledging the antecedents of Kalu in the political space, the APC scribe urged returning senators and senators-elect to support the former Abia governor, for the sake of building a robust NASS leadership committed to Nigerians.
“His Excellency, Dr Orji Uzor Kalu should be considered as the Senate or Deputy Senate President having won his full constituency in the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly election.
“Besides, he has the charisma and as an accomplished international businessman, his wealth of experience is highly needed to move the country forward,” he added.
