2023: ‘Ndigbo are no longer the mumu they used to cheat,’ Orji Kalu speaks on why power should go to N’East

The Senate Chief Whip, Orji Kalu, on Monday explained he is throwing his weight behind the 2023 presidential bid of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan.

Lawan, who is from the North-East, is one of the 28 presidential aspirants eyeing the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket at this month’s primary slated for Abuja.

READ ALSO: ‘Nine APC presidential aspirants to step down for Lawan,’ Kalu claims

Kalu, who featured in a Channels Television programme, Politics Today, said his understanding of the power shift to the Southern part of the country was that all regions in the zone – South-South, South-West and South-East would allow the latter to produce the country’s next president.

He added that since South-West and South-South-South are not willing to surrender the presidential ticket to the South-East, he would not mind if the presidency remained in the North.

He said: “We agreed that it is the turn of the South-East to produce the president. Later we started seeing candidates from other zones – South-West and South-South.

“I know the two zones that have not produced the country’s president are South-East and North-East. I know I don’t have the number but I have other things to win the election.

“Since our southern brothers refuse to leave it to the South-East, if it is not South-East then it should be North-East. The South-West and South-South are not fair.

“If we have to do anything rational, Ahmed Lawal will have my vote because he is from the North-East. Anything except South-East, it should go back to the North. We are wiser now. This is the position of most Igbos. If they vote it back to the South-East, I’ll reactivate my aspiration.”

He also described the former Kano State governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso and his New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPC) as a formidable force in the 2023 elections.

Kalu added: “The problem we have now is Kwankwanso. If they give me the ticket, I’ll lose to Kwankwanso. If APC pick southerner, Kwankwanso is already the president.”

The former Abia State governor, who dismissed insinuations on his interest in the running mate ticket, insisted that nine presidential aspirants would step down for the Senate President before the APC primary election.

“I am not a politician but an entrepreneur. I talk straight and not like a politician. I employ 35 percent of journalists in Nigeria.

“I have already purchased my Senate form. I have known Lawal for 41 years. We were roommate in the university,” he concluded.

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