…as Izunaso meets Buhari, says he wants to be Senate President
A pressure group, Concern Nigerians for Sustainable Democracy (CNSD) has urged the All Progressives Congress(APC) to zone Senate Presidency to the South East.
The Convener and Coordinator of the group, Dr Amos Gizo, made the call while addressing a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
Gizo, who said that members of the group were drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory(FCT), said that the South-East deserved to be considered for integration and sustainability.
He said: “South-East has two APC governors, Imo and Ebonyi and one APC governor-elect also from Ebonyi.
“Also, South-East has produced six APC senators-elect in 2023 election from five states.
“From 1999 till date, South-South has produced Vice-president and President in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan and none from South-East.
“Also, South-South has produced two APC National Chairmen, John Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole and none from South East.”
The convener further said “South-South has also produced the National Secretary, Sen. John Akpan Udodeghe and Senate Majority Leader Sen. Victor Ndoma Egba.
“Also, currently South-South has the Deputy President of the Senate, Ovie Omo-Agege.
“So, there is a need to give South-East a sense of belonging as it has not enjoyed any of these positions since 2015.
According to Gizo, considering the south-east will help tackle the problem of insecurity in the region.
“Our position is to strengthen democracy and reduce political tension.
“We are mindful of the fact that democracy is a game of number.
“We are also mindful that Nigeria is a cosmopolitan and multi religious country that needs special handling in the spirit of keeping the Nigerian state one,” he said.
Senator Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo-West) met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday to intimate the president with his interest in the seat of the Senate President.
He told newsmen after the meeting that there was the need to zone the Senate Presidency to the Southeast geopolitical zone.
Izunaso said he is most suited for the position as he remains the highest ranking senator from the Southeast.
“We are waiting for the party to zone the position to us. It is only fair and natural that the position be zoned to the Southeast.
“Since, I’m the oldest senator from both the Southeast and South-South, it is obvious that I am vying.
“There is no senator today in APC of Southeast or South-South extraction that did not meet me in the Senate. The Senate is an institution that believes in ranking.
“I was in the House of Representatives before. I have been in the party for five good years.
“I ran the party as National Organising Secretary, which saw us to victory in 2015 and in 2019. I think we have paid our dues,’’ he said.
Izunaso is the third aspirant to the seat that had visited President Buhari in recent times.
Others that had indicated interest in the seat are the Senate Chief Whip and former governor of Abia, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Ebonyi, Senator-elect Dave Umahi, and former governor of Akwa Ibom, Sen. Godswill Akpabio. (NAN)
