By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
The list of aspirants to the exalted Office of the President of Nigeria’s Senate increased by one as Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso, has formally announced his candidature after consulting President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa Abuja today.
Izunaso, a Ranking Member of the Nigerian Senate announced his decision to contest for the Senate President’s post while briefing State House Correspondents after a closed door meeting with President Buhari in his office.
According to him he was in the Presidential Villa, Abuja to discuss with the President on a wide range of issues including his intention to join the Senate Presidency race.
Said he: “I am in the Presidential Villa Abuja today to see Mr. President and I am glad to say that I met him and we discussed on a wide range of national issues. I am not favourably disposed to make public what we discussed but I must say we had a frank and very fruitful”.
Asked if his ambition to be Senate President was part of the discussion with President Buhari, the former Member of the Federal House of Representatives affirmed, saying that he has formally informed the President as the leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Father of the Nation that he will be running for the Office of Senate President of the 10th Senate.
On if he thinks he has a chance in the race because of the long list of other heavyweights who have indicated their interest in the same position, Izunaso said that he is one of the most qualified senators and does not see anyone better than him to occupy the Senate President’s post.
Said he: ” Every argument about who becomes the Senate President favours me. In fact, argument in favour of zoning it to South East and South South geopolitical zones is in my favour too. Look, I am a Ranking Member of the Senate and this is an institution that recognises seniority.
“Look, we must ensure that every part of Nigeria is taken together for the unity of Nigeria. I must appeal to my colleagues that the South East should be seriously considered in the new dispension and one of the ways to tell the South East that they also belong is to give them the Senate President’s post for power balancing sake.
Speaking further he said: “South- East has two APC governors (Imo and Ebonyi) and one APC Governor elect of Ebonyi while the
South South has one APC Governor (Cross River State) and one Governor Elect in same Cross River State. Also, South-East produced six APC Senators-Elect in 2023 election from five states while, South-South has six APC Senators-Elect in 2023 from six States.
“Most importantly, we should remember that
from 1999 till date, South South has produced Vice- President and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan and none from South-East.
“Again, our neighbours from the South-South have produced two APC National Chairmen
in the persons of Chief John Oyegun and Gov. Adams Oshiomhole and none from South-East. South-South has also produced the National Secretary of APC, Senator John Akpan Udoedehe.
“Currently, South South has the Deputy Senate
President, H.E. Ovie Omo Agege while
South-East only produced Senate President from 1999 under the President Olusegun Obasanjo regime and nothing more
till date.
“Since the South-East has not produced any other top leader under APC government, 2015 to date, there is urgent need to dilute the Peter Obi Phenomenon in the South-East.There is need to give South-East a sense of belonging since 2015 till date under APC.
“Most important, there is need to
douse the IPOB/ESN and general insecurity in the South-East by letting one of their own occupy the Office of Senate President. South-East is in the majority in terms of population
spread across the federation against the South South geopolitical zone. This is the way to go”.
Aside Izunaso, others that have indicated their interest in the position are Senators Orji Uzor Kalu, Godswill Akpabio, Sani Musa, Ali Ndume, Abdullazizi Yari, Jubrin Barau and
Ahmad Lawan.
