By Barrister Sam Ogbonna
Most often, people jump into other people’s affairs and begin to discuss their antecedents without full knowledge of such persons. Since after the Presidential and National Assembly elections on the 25th of February,2023, the social media and different fora have been awash with who gets what in sharing key political positions in the country.
Recently, the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), that has majority of the Senators in the upper Chamber, has decided from what I read to zone the President of the Senate to the South East. It should be recalled that when Senator Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK) made his position known with regards to the position of the Senate Presidency, many wanted to vilify him and even called for his head.
Now that it seems obvious that the President of the Senate is coming to the South East, many are jostling for it, but the big question is; how many of them are more qualified and competent in legislative business than Senator Orji Uzor Kalu?
Just to go a bit down the memory lane. At 24years, OUK had already carved a niche for himself and I wouldn’t want to border us with the history and the glorious achievements incidental there to.
We may recall that OUK, a maverick politician, master strategist, business mogul and a philanthropist of note, was a Member of the House of Representatives from 1992 to 1993, and as a first timer whose all round indefatigable and indispensable experience was mostly needed, served as the Vice Chairman of the House Committee on Finance among other vibrant and sensitive House Committees. He brought his managerial wealth of experience in his business conglomerate to bear on legislative duties. That legislative period could not last due to military intervention.
In 2019, when many that OUK brought to political limelight tried to pull him down, he excelled and won the Abia North Senatorial seat. The people from both the Northern and Western Nigeria in the Upper Chamber, saw the exceptional qualities in this young, vibrant and amiable Senator and elected him as the Senate Chief Whip without minding that he was a first timer, a responsibility he has discharged to the admiration of his colleagues and others. In the past,we have heard of legislative imbroglio and even physical combat in the Chambers, but since Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has been in charge of discipline in the Senate, the story changed and harmonious legislative business has taken prominence. What a great feat! The reward for diligence and hard work, they say, is more work.
Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, having garnered the requisite legislative experience and having known the politics of Nigeria, deserves to be the number three citizen because, the cap fits him. In less than four years as a Senator, he has many Bills to his credit and most of them have been assented to by Mr. President. How about the numerous tangible and intangible projects he attracted to his Senatorial Zone and beyond which have become the talk of the town and many are bewildered that a Senator could even embark on road constructions?
Challenging the suitability of Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to be the next Senate President will do no one any good because, this Distinguished Senator, His Excellency, Aha Eji Eji A ga Mba, the political mathematician and juggernaut, bridge builder and the apple of God’s eyes, has the experience, charisma, exposure and imbued with team spirit to bring about the most vibrant and peaceful Senate Leadership. They say that a trial will convince you, let’s rally round OUK and give him the support and encouragement and watch out what will happen and how Nigeria and Nigerians would thrive in terms of making laws that will be beneficial to all. He that the cap fits, let him wear it. SENATOR ORJI UZOR KALU remains the best for the position of Senate President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and with our collective support, prayers and encouragement, victory is certain.
Ogbonna is an Abia State based Legal Practitioner
