Governor Umahi visits Buhari to explain why senate presidency should go to the southeast

GOVERNOR Dave Umahi of Ebonyi State has visited President Muhammadu Buhari to reiterate the case for the next senate president coming from the southeast geo-political zone saying it is only fair to do so.

With Asiwaju Bola Tinubu from the southwest elected as president and Senator Kashim Shettima from the northeast elected as vice president, the race for the senate president is open to candidates from all of the other four geo-political zones. Ranking senators from the northwest, south-south, southeast and north central geo-political zones are already positioning themselves for the coveted position, three months before elections are due.

Among those who have already thrown their hats into the ring for the senate presidency include Senators Abdul’Aziz Yari if Zamfara State, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State,  Orji Uzor Kalu of Abia State and Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State. Yesterday, however, Governor Umahi who will be going into the senate after May 29, visited President Buhari to officially inform him that he will be standing too.

According to Governor Umahi, justice, equity and fairness must guide the All Progressives Congress (APC) when zoning the principal offices of the 10th National Assembly. Over the last 48 hours, Senators Yari and Akpabio, visited President Buhari to declare their intentions to become the next senate president too.

While arguing that the southeast made considerable contributions to Asiwaju Tinubu’s victory, Governor Umahi cautioned the ruling party against gauging its choices of the candidate by vote contributions alone. He stated that the emerging candidate must be one who gives the APC a fighting chance in the June election.

Governor Umahi said: “I think that every region that is clamouring for the senate presidency to be zoned to them, it is the right of such people. But if you look at the true reflection of our society, you will agree with me that the right thing to be done by leaders without prejudice to their rights and their thinking is that the southeast deserves the number three position.

“I’ve always said that you can deliver somebody by the reason of majority votes of a particular region but you also need the minority cooperation of the minority people to have a holistic nation to govern. This is very important for inclusiveness, for the unity of the country and for everybody to be carried along.

"Nobody has been able to say this is the reason why the southeast should not be given this position. We made vows to our people while we were campaigning for the APC, we assured them that we belong to an equitable and fair Nigeria and it has come to a point where that position we took should be practicalised, which is why it is a time for inclusiveness and it is a time to move this country forward.”