Chief Whip of the Senate Orji Uzor Kalu has said it is overdue for the country to have a President of Igbo extraction, expressing optimism that in 2023, President Muhammadu Buhari’s successor will be Igbo.
The former Abia governor spoke on Wednesday while fielding questions from newsmen in Abuja.
The frontline presidential aspirant noted that he has to push with other regions to ensure that Igbo president happens.
He said, “It is overdue, I believe that we should produce the next President and it is going to happen. I don’t need to push, I have to push along with the other regions.”
He also took a swipe at those who have already declared to contest as President of the country ahead of the 2023 general and Presidential elections, saying those persons are not serious.
The Senator representing Abia North said that he does not believe in Igbo Presidency, but believes in Nigerian President of Igbo extraction, just as he declared that if the Presidency is zoned to the southeast geo-political zone of the country, he has everything it takes for him to vie for the most exalted position in the land.
The lawmaker emphasized that he has not started consulting ahead of his formal declaration for the position of the President of the country, said, “Well they are pushing but they are not serious, a serious-minded person will like to be fair to Nigeria, fair to the society and to be fair to the atmosphere, because the party is not owned by me or you the media.
“This party is owned by Nigerians and the APC members. It is only APC that can decide like at the forthcoming convention where the Presidential ticket will be zoned to. If they zone it to the south-east I have everything it takes to make a good President.”
On his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari Tuesday night, Kalu said, “This is not the first time I go to see the president, Presidency is a place where people go in the afternoon, I went in the night to avoid the media. I go there regularly it is a family affair and I went there to discuss national issues, issues of security, the issue of well being of our country, and issue of the electoral act. The discussion was very fruitful and it was held in the night, is that why you should come to ambush me?
When asked if he informed President Buhari of intention to contest for the Presidency, Orji Kalu said, “Did the party zone the 2023 presidency to the South West, I told you before that when the party zones it officially to the south. I told you the only two zones that have not tasted the presidency are the southeast and the Northeast, once they zone it to anyone of them I have the capacity and the capability I will roll and I will rock like a hurricane.”
