In the news have been flippant debates suggesting that South-South Nigeria should be rewarded for the efforts towards the victory of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 presidential elections in Nigeria. The arguments and opinions rely on the premise that South-East garnered more votes for APC more than the South-East did for the party.
However, APC must take cognizance of the fact that South-East has been an ancestral home, sort of, to the major opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). APC has made successful impact into the region and have taken over two states from PDP (Imo and Ebonyi) while the South-south has remained static with one APC State (Cross River) with no other state likely to move to the benefit of APC. Common sense demands that APC should consolidate on the gains it has had in the South-East to win Abia over since it is a lone state party wise.
Moreso, from 1999 till date, the South-south geo-political zone has produced a vice-president and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the person of President Goodluck Jonathan and none from South-east. It is expected of President Bola Tinubu to take a different route in addressing the imbalance in Nigeria which heightens the chants of marginalization. Pulling the chance of occupying the third office, (senate president) in Nigeria, and giving them just the office of speaker of the House of Representatives will in all ways deepen the conviction that the region is marginalized..
on the same plank, South-south has produced two APC National Chairmen in the persons of Chief John Oyegun and Adams Oshiomhole, and none from South-east. It is common to not that APC has not in any clear circumstance shown favor to South-East despite efforts made by the region to embrace the party. Should President Bola Tinubu and the APC wish that the prevailing agitation for secession by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and general insecurity in the South-east will naturally simmer down, it is a misthought because if the next senate president is denied the zone, that feeling of exclusivity will be emboldened.
The idea of President Bola Tinubu presiding a government of national competence instead of national unity is well underscored. Sen (H.E) Orji Uzor Kalu is by all standards qualified to preside the affairs of the 10th Senate. He is the highest-ranking Senator from Southeast. With his stint of time in the House of Representative, his two terms as governor of Abia State, and his current office as Chief Whip of the 9th Senate are experiences deserving for the office of senate president.
It will be an intentional slight and injustice on Southeast if the APC National Working Committee denies them the opportunity to represent Nigeria in the capacity of President of the 10th Senate.
