Zone Senate Presidency to my ‘village’, Kalu pleads with APC leadership

Senator-elect and Chief Whip of the Nigerian Senate, Orji Kalu on Tuesday pleaded with the All Progressives Congress, APC National leadership to zone the 10th Senate Presidency to his village, Igbere in Abia North Senatorial District.

He stated this in an interview with journalists at the National Assembly Complex saying he believed it was his turn to clinch the Office.

The former governor of Abia State ruled out the possibility of having a Muslim Senate President, noting that the APC should recognise the secularity of the country and accommodate diverse religious interests.

According to him, he will not be comfortable with a Muslim Senate President.

“I believe in a Muslim -Muslim president, but I will not believe in a Muslim Senate President, because it will not go fine for our country.”

Reacting to questions if he will contest for the Office of the Senate President, Kalu confirmed strong that he was ready to contest for Senate President if the Party zone it to his zone as the party is supreme.

He stressed that the President-elect need m n of strong character to work with him, hence, he is pleading with APC leadership to zone Senate Presidency to where he will have opportunity to contest, adding that he was ready to work with Tinubu to turn the economy around.

Speaking further, he said: “The bills I sponsored like the rail way bill, you can see that the state governments can now build railways, private sector entities can now build rail ways, like the electricity was unbundled.

He explained that Senate has rules, and if a true democracy is being practised, nobody should contest for the Office of Senate President with him.

“Let me be honest with you, if we practice true democracy, I should not be in contest with any body, because apart from the Senate President and Deputy Senate President, the Senate Leader, I am the next ranking member in the Senate going by the position I occupy today in the 9th Senate.

“It is virtually impossible that the Senate will elect or zone it to a new member to the Senate.

“The Senate is an established institution that needs some body with an experience, some one with the skills and will be able to relate.

“On the general election, no election is perfect, we have some lapses, there is no democracy that is perfect, but we must move on. INEC has done the job they can do, it is left for us as lawmakers to tighten the nose in the act where there is a mistake, we go back for amendment and I want you journalists to promote where there is lapses.

“President Tinubu, I want to assure you I will stand firm in giving good governance.”