By CHIKA NWABUEZE
Former Governor of Abia State and Senator representing Abia North senatorial zone in the National Assembly, Chief Orji Uzor Kalu has said that the South East should not expect to get any top position in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari because the region did not support the president during the 2019 General Election.
Kalu, said that President Buhari is justified to take any punitive steps against the South East region because they did not vote for APC, adding that ‘’we are paying the price for our inconsiderate political decision in the last election’’.
Senator Kalu spoke today Saturday June 22nd, at his country home Igbere during the civic reception to celebrate his victory at the last election. He told the mammoth crowd that gathered to celebrate with him that Ndigbo should try and be wiser next time because the rule of the game is that if ‘’you work, you eat’ and not the other way round, saying that the Igbo should not expect to reap where it did not sow.
He said ‘’Igbo must come together to make use of their numerical strength in Nigeria, adding that if you go to Lagos 43 per cent of the voting population are Igbo, while in Kano the voting strength of Igbo is over 20 per cent and in Rivers 40 per cent. He said there is every need for the Igbo to wake up politically and begin to consult and meet in order to reposition the South East politically.
Chief Kalu further clarified that he did not step down from the Deputy Senate President race out of fear as being insinuated in certain political circles, pointing out that he did so in obedience to the party because party is supreme. According to him, ‘’I can’t disobey President Buhari or our party leadership, that is what happened’’, adding that he could have won the election clean.
To him what is important is that there is peace in the APC after the election of the principal officers of the National Assembly. The Abia North Senator promised to be a good representative of the people of Abia North and Abia State in general at the senate. He maintained that with Buhari the future of Nigeria is brighter.
He thanked his constituents for the support and for electing him to represent them, noting that Nigeria is one and should use its diversity as our strength.
APC deputy governorship candidate for Abia state, Rt. Hon. Martins Azubuike while speaking to the press on the side-line of the event, said that Kalu is a true representative of the people, describing the event as quite commendable.
