By Harry Awurumibe, Editor Abuja Bureau
Less than two months to the inauguration of the 10th National Asssembly billed for June after the expected proclamation by the President of Federal Republic of Nigeria, the odds favour a frontline aspirant to the post of the President of Senate, Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso.
This is even as the incumbent State Governors elected on the platform of All Progressives Congress (APC) have urged the ruling party to expedite action on its proposal for the zoning of Senate President and Speaker of House of Representatives.
Prompt News gathered that the governors who met in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja last week have advised their party hierarchy to be mindful of religion as a crucial factor in the choice of the next presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly for power balancing and national cohesion.
The arguments of the governors may not be unconnected with the fact that the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a Muslim from the South West while his deputy, Senator Kashim Shettima is also a Muslim from the North East, making it imperative that the presiding officers of the 10th National Assembly should be from the Christian faith in a secular country like Nigeria.
According to sources close to the governors who attended the meeting, majority of them are favourably disposed to making political concessions to the South East, South South and North Central geo-political zones in sharing NASS positions.
“Many APC governors are sensitive to the geo-political and religious make-up of the country. It appears that they may favour the zoning of the Senate President and House of Representatives Speaker to the South South, South East and North Central. This means that if the Senate President comes from either of the South South or South East, the Speaker will then come from the North Central”, a source who attended the meeting said.
In the light of the above, Izunaso insists that the odds favour him to clinch the top post, adding that he is the man for the job of the Senate President because he is well equipped for the position as a ranking Senator and former Member, Federal House of Representatives.
The Senator representing Imo West (Orlu senatorial zone) who declared his candidature a week ago after a closed door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at Presidential Villa Abuja, 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.
The former APC National Organising Secretary and ex-Member, National Working Committee (NWC), National Executive Committee (NEC) and Chairman, APC North Central Zone Registration, Revalidation Committee and Director, APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC) Contact / Mobilization, South East as well as former Chief Press Secretary to ex-Speaker of Federal House of Representatives and ex-Senate President also said that he is very much experienced to be the President of the Senate.
According to him: “Every argument about who becomes the Senate President favours me. In fact, argument in favour of zoning it to South East and South South geo-political zones is in my favour too. 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: “Our party is a party that believes in justice and fairness. It’s a party that rewards hardwork too. My zone has worked for the party. The records are there for all to see that South- East has two incumbent APC governors in Imo and Ebonyi states and one APC Governor-elect in Ebonyi while the
South South has only one APC out-going Governor in Cross River 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, 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.
“It should be of great importance to every peace- loving Nigerian that there is need to douse the IPOB/ESN tension 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”.
Other Senators vying for the same position as Izunaso are former Governors of Abia and Akwa Ibom states- Orji Uzor Kalu and Godswill Akpabio. Senators Sani Musa, Ali Ndume, Abdullazizi Yari, Jubrin Barau and incumbent President, Ahmad Lawan are in the race too.
