I will run for deputy senate president and nobody can stop me – Orji Kalu

Chidi Samuel|

Former governor of Abia state and freshman Senator-elect Uzor Kalu on Wednesday said he will contest the position of the deputy senate president in 9th national assembly.

The Abia north Senator-elect who made his position known while speaking with journalists at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, called on the ruling APC, to, therefore, zone the post to the South East in the interest of justice and equity.

According to APC’s current zoning formula, the deputy-senate president position is zoned to the north-west.

But a defiant Kalu told newsmen that he would break ranks with the party if it persists with the current arrangement.

Kalu said, “I am a very loyal party man. The party has zoned the Senate presidency position to the north-east and I want to respect the party’s will. But the second position is what we are not going to allow to leave the south-east.”

“So, as far as I am concerned, in the south-east, I am going to run openly on the floor of the house for the position of deputy senate president.

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“I am not going to listen to the party neither will I listen to anybody. Nobody that wants to be the deputy senate president is more loyal than I am to the party.

“I have suffered for the party and have been called by Nigerians to come out. I want the party to respect the will of every other person and I am committed to democracy and contesting on the floor of the house.”

“So, if justice must prevail, you have to bring the Senate president from the north-east and you bring the deputy-senate president to the south-east,” he said.

“The chairman of the party is from south-south. The president is from north-west. The vice-president is from south-west and also the Senate president will come from north-east.

“So, for me, the tripod in Nigeria is Igbo, Yoruba, and Hausa and we are going to get the deputy senate president and I will fight on the floor of the house like no other person has fought.

“That is not challenging the party but this is about looking for justice. Buhari said recently after the elections that he will be addressing issues of injustice and this is part of the issue.”

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“I know the nook and crannies of how legislators operate. I have dealt with them and I am not a newcomer. So, it is going to be impossible to edge me out or edge a whole zone out by claiming we are newcomers,” he said.

“What I am fighting for is justice, fair play and for Nigeria to continue to be one. I have suffered in fighting for the unity of the country. They cannot use national assembly or petty house officers to divide the country.

“All my investments are in the north, in the west and the south and we must protect these things and live in peace.”

“I have the capacity for lobbying. I am well-known in east, west, and north. If the party continues this way, I will run for the senate president if justice is not done to say south-east,” he said.

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