NASS Leadership: Seven Meat In Soup Should Go Round To Six Brothers – Kalu
The Senator-elect, Abia North Senatorial District, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu has said each geopolitical zone in the country should be able to benefit in key offices of the Federal government, adding that this is the fair thing to do.
He also said he is ready to fight to actualize his ambition as the Deputy President of the 9th Senate, insisting that he is not ready to let go of the right of the South East region.
Sen. Kalu while featuring on Channels TV breakfast show, Sunrise Daily on Thursday, monitored by Igbere TV, insisted that if six brothers are eating in a plate containing seven meats, it is fair for each person to get one, while the remaining one will be shared on agreed ratio among the parties.
“There are seven meats in the soup, and you are eating with people and you want to eat it alone? That is not the way to live in Nigeria. If we are six brothers, each brother should get one and we will talk how to share the remaining one. If one man wants to eat it all against the other people, there will be trouble” he said.
He also listed Speakership and Chairmanship of APC for the South East as conditions under which he can shield his ambition.
The former governor stated that failure to include the South East region among the principal officers of the 9th National Assembly will amount to denying them equity and fairness, adding that the diversity of the country be threatened.
“I’m not running because that office is going to do anything in my life. I’m running for fairness and equity. The South East must have somebody in the hierarchy. There are seven key positions of the Federal government; the president, the vice president, the senate president, speaker house of representatives, the deputy Senate president, the deputy speaker and the chairman of the ruling party.
“So how do you want out of this seven, nothing will come to the South East? That is all I’m asking. I have always been on the side of the people, from student union government in university of Maiduguri till today, I have always maintained that we be fair in all we do” he said.
He described as lie the insinuations that president Muhammadu Buhari has endorsed another candidate from the South South region for office of the Deputy Senate President, insisting that the president in a private meeting with him (Kalu) said he has not endorsed anyone for the number five position in the country.
Kalu insisted that he is well qualified for the position of the Deputy Senate President, saying nothing is wrong with his ambition. “I have been a member of the legislature, I have been two term governor, what is wrong in my ambition? Whether it is personal or in the interest of our people, I represent the interests of our people. I’m not shy in saying what I want and what should be done rightly.
“I have told you if they give any other position that is as good as the speaker of the House of Representatives, I will drop today, now” he vowed.
He continued, “what I’m looking for in life is limited. I have retired as a man. I am trying to make sure we help Mr. President build the country the way it’s supposed to be. So I have no personal interest but if you call it personal interest, what is wrong with that? Am I not a human being? Those occupying the position, are they better than me? Is it because I’m Igbo? I won’t take that from anybody”.
Kalu reiterated that in a caucus meeting of the key officials of the government where the South East region does not have a representation does not mean well for the region and the country in general.
He also indicated interest to resign as a Senator to take up the job of the National Chairman of APC. “South East must get something. The Chairman of the party is from South South. I’m ready today to resign as a Senator to be the chairman of the party, then South South can have the deputy Senate president. South East must get something. Not deputy House leader or chief whip” he insisted.
The lawmaker stated that the APC performance in the 2019 election in the South East was 29.5 percent against 3 percent it recorded in the 2015 election.
He said zoning the Deputy Senate President to the region will further advance the fortunes of the party in subsequent elections and also draw the region closer to the Federal government.
Kalu appealed to APC not to further throw the party into crisis by refusing the South East region the Deputy Senate President in the 9th Senate, maintaining that he is ready to slog it out with any opponent.
He expressed optimism that with the support of his colleagues in the red chamber, he will emerge victorious.
