By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ahead of the June inauguration of the tenth National Assembly, Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has said it is his turn to head the Red Chambers, pressing to be elected President of the Senate.
Sen. Kalu, representing Abia North senatorial district, hails from South East region, the Igbo-speaking part of the country that has not produced an elected president since Independence of the country in 1960.
The former Abia Governor called on his party – the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the number three seat to South East region of Nigeria.
The office of the Senate President in Nigeria is the third in hierarchy. The president-elect, Bola Tinubu who is expected to assume office May 29 is from South West, making him the second person from the region to be elected as president since return of democracy in 1999. Olusegun Obasanjo who ruled from 1999-2007 was the first.
Also, the second citizen, Sen. Kashim Shettima who will be sworn-in May 29 is from the North East region of Nigeria.
The South East has repeatedly alleged imbalances in power sharing in Nigeria’s multi-ethnic system.
“It is my turn to become the Senate President. If I’m elected Senate President, I will be team Nigeria. I’m going to work in every corner of Nigeria,” the Abia North Senator told newsmen on Tuesday at the National Assembly complex Abuja.
He stated further, “I schooled in Maiduguri, Borno State. I started my business in Lagos and spread it across all state capitals. My first name will be team Nigeria, my last name will be team Nigeria.
“Remember, I’m the only former governor who has never changed phone lines for more than 20 years. I’m still willing to maintain that telephone number to answer all my calls. I’m not going to switch off my phones because I’m Senate President.
“I’m hoping that Nigerians will pray for me to become Senate President because it’s my turn.”
With his position as the Chief Whip of the ninth Senate, Kalu said he is the most ranking Senator from the South East and therefore deserves the position.
His party has not officially taken a decision on which region to zone presidency of the Senate to, but calls from prominent citizens have favoured the South East.
Some federal lawmakers-elect on the platform of APC have unofficially indicated an interest in running for leadership positions in the National Assembly. The include Senator Godswill Akpabio, Senator Sani Musa, and Senator Jubril Barau.
It is also not certain if the incumbent Senate President, Ahmad Lawan who hails from North East, same zone with the incoming vice president, Kashim Shettima may indicate interest in the job.
