Senate Presidency: Uzor Kalu Writes APC NWC, 108 Senators-elect 

• Ruling party moves to avert 8th NASS backlash

BY SEGUN ADEBAYO – In what seems a rejection of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) National Working Committee’s announced endorsement of a zoning formula for 10th National Assembly leadership portfolios, the Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has officially declared his interest to become Nigeria’s next Senate President.

The Expression of Interest (EoI), conveyed in personal letters written by the former Governor of Abia State to each NWC members and the 108 Senators-elect, has already sent tongues wagging that a repeat of events that played out during the eighth (8th) National Assembly leadership contest could be in the offing.

On that occasion, disquiets within the ruling party led to the unexpected emergence of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President contrary to the APC Leadership’s position after the 2015 general elections.

And just before the Party made its zoning formula for the NASS leadership public on Monday afternoon, a copy of the letters Senator Kalu personally signed and addressed to each NWC members and Senators-elect, emerged with his offer to serve the Nigerian people, the senators-elect and the APC as the Senate President with sincerity of heart, humility, and candour.

An official statement released by his Media office on the letters also indicated that Kalu’s seeming inactivity in the Senate presidency race so far was due to the one-month mourning period for his late wife, Mrs Ifeoma Ada Kalu

The letters of intent, cited by Forefront News, are accompanied by copies of his  Legislative agenda, with six listed priority areas of Economic Growth and Reform; National Security; Improved Social Conditions and Welfare; Constitutional and Electoral Reform; Efficient and Effective National Assembly; and Global Influence

With a pledge to defend the constitution as well as foster a congenial and cordial relationship among the legislative, the executive and judicial arms of government, Senator Kalu’s letter to the party leaders said; “It is with a deep sense of joy and humility that I bring you warm greetings and that of Abia North Senatorial zone.

“My emergence as the Senator to represent Abia North in this critical time in the history of our dear nation comes with huge responsibilities, top of which is to make quality laws for the good governance of our people.

“To be able to achieve these enviable goals, we require good leaders who will pilot the affairs of the 10th Senate.

“Leadership of a sophisticated Senate at the 10th Session will need men and women with abundance of shared vision, consensus building, charisma, credibility, and pragmatism in the saddle.

“This is why I most humbly write to officially inform you of my interest to be elected the next Senate President.

“I make this offer to serve you and the Nigerian people with sincerity of heart, humility, and candour.”

On his expected value addition to the National Assembly when elected as Senate President, the Chief Whip said: “The biggest asset I bring to the table is wisdom and experience garnered over the years in the management of human and material resources.

“I promise to work for you, promote and defend the constitution and the party, and foster a congenial and cordial relationship between the party, the executive, and judiciary.

“One thing is indubitably certain: working together in unity and mutual love and respect, we can take Nigeria to the real next level of peace, progress, and development”.

Meanwhile, party insiders hinted that the APC Leadership is leaving nothing to chance as high level consultations and engagement have kick-started to ensure the 2015 episode does not repeat itself in which the ruling party lost the Deputy Senate presidency to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) due to internal wranglings.

This is as the former Abia Governor dismissed speculations that the South East Senators-elect have endorsed his candidature, explaining that the Zone’s Senators-elect meeting was particularly convened to put their demands forward to the President-elect and the party.

According to him, the South-East geo-political zone is yet to formally endorse anyone for any position as being speculated in the country’s media space.