Southern Progressives Assembly, a socio-political group has commended the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu for backing the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The group in a statement signed by its President, Boma Godson, on Thursday morning applauded Kalu for being a committed party man.
He said Senator Kalu’s opinion on APC’s Muslim/Muslim ticket for the presidential election was the only way the party could retain power in 2023, noting that with Tinubu wife being a Christian, Nigerians should not bother about any religious conflict.
“Senator Kalu has said it all. Our problem as a nation is not about religion but having a good leader with a sound mind and character. It is leadership and capacity to deliver. What has the current Vice President done to better the lives of Christian since 2015?
“We should be talking about how the APC can win the presidential election. Senator Kalu said the mind of every patriotic member of the APC. It is about winning the presidential election. Let’s keep sentiments aside. There’s absolutely nothing wrong in Muslim/Muslim ticket,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Wednesday declared his intention to work towards the success of the All Progressive’s Congress presidential candidate, Senator Ahmed Bola Tinubu, in the 2023 elections.
Kalu, who spoke while responding to questions from reporters at the Senate, promised to replicate for Tinubu the same level of efforts he devoted towards the emergence of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan before and during the party’s primaries.
Recall that Bola Ahmed Tinubu a former Governor of Lagos State emerged winner at the special presidential convention of the APC held at the Eagles Square in Abuja, beating 22 other presidential aspirants. Prior to Tinubu’s emergence the former Governor led a sturdy campaign for Lawan to emerge as the party’s flag bearer via consensus.
Fielding additional questions, the Abia-North Senator expressed his satisfaction over the conduct and outcome of the primaries, he however noted that although he had anticipated the party’s Presidential flag bearer would have emerged via consensus , he will however work towards the success of Bola Tinubu.
Speaking on primaries; “I am very satisfied with the primary , without that kind of primary there could have been a lot of factions. Although my group was prepared for consensus, not a primary election , when it came suddenly we had to abide by it . So I’m very happy that at the end APC won. We won and won resoundingly.
“The next is to work for the APC and to work for the APC candidate, we have no alternative. I’m a party man which most of you here can testify to that I’m a very strong party man and I don’t shy away from issues. Now the way I fought for Lawan is the same way I’ll fight for Bola Ahmed Tinubu.”
Expressing his content, with the result of the Presidential primaries, Kalu admitted the supremacy of the party, he maintained that he is a devoted member of the party and as such will work towards the party’s victory in the 2023 Presidential election.
He commended President Buhari for not taking sides with any Presidential candidate, he also expressed optimism the South-East will vote overwhelmingly for the APC’s Presidential candidate the same way they voted for President Buhari in 2019.
“I’ll always take my stand on any issue , whether I agree or disagree. I’ve accepted that Bola Tinubu won and the whole party agreed there’s no doubt about his victory and when there’s no doubt about his victory we just have to go to the field to work for our party’s victory.
“I pray that my constituency in the South-East will give us the same belief that they gave to President Buhari in 2019 which gave him 68% of votes. I hope they’ll be able to give APC the same number of votes.
“I told people that President Buhari would not take sides and that was what happened. He asked everybody to go to the field to try their luck and the message is that it is good for the Nigerian President and the Nigerian leaders not to take sides. It’s good for our democracy and it also goes to the Governors to stop taking sides, Kalu said.
