The race for the presidency of the 10th Senate took a new dimension Monday as Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, has written a very strong letter to all members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and 108 Senators-elect stating his interest to be the next Senate President.
Senator Kalu also refuted claims that the South East Senators-elect had endorsed him, noting that the senators only met to make a demand from the President-elect and the party.
In a statement released by his Media office Monday, Kalu said he was offering himself for the position of the Senate President to the Nigerian people.
In the letter which he addressed to each of the senators-elect, he further stated that his aspiration for the plum job was with sincerity of heart, humility, and candour.
Kalu, however, stated that he had not been openly campaigning for the office because he still mourns’ his late wife, Mrs Ifeoma Ada Kalu.
The former Abia State governor also promised to promote and defend the constitution and foster cordial relationships between the executive and judiciary, given the chance.
Part of the letter reads:
“It is with a deep sense of joy and humility that I bring you warm greetings and that of Abia North Senatorial zone.
“My emergence as the Senator to represent Abia North in this critical time in the history of our dear nation comes with huge responsibilities, top of which is to make quality laws for the good governance of our people.
“To be able to achieve these enviable goals, we require good leaders who will pilot the affairs of the 10th Senate.
“Leadership of a sophisticated Senate at the 10th Session will need men and women with abundance of shared vision, consensus building, charisma, credibility, and pragmatism in the saddle.
“This is why I most humbly write to officially inform you of my interest to be elected the next Senate President.
“I make this offer to serve you and the Nigerian people with sincerity of heart, humility, and candour.
“The biggest asset I bring to the table is wisdom and experience garnered over the years in the management of human and material resources.
“I promise to work for you, promote and defend the constitution and the party, and foster a congenial and cordial relationship between the party, the executive and judiciary.
“One thing is indubitably certain: working together in unity and mutual love and respect, we can take Nigeria to the real next level of peace, progress, and development”.
