Anthony Iwuoma
A former governor of Abia State and the Chief Whip of the Senate, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, has pulled out of the 2023 presidential race and decided to support the ambition of the Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, instead.
Sen. Kalu officially withdrew from the race on Monday night via a press statement.
“I congratulate my friend, former roommate and boss, Senator Ahmad Lawan as he picks form to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under our great party, All Progressives Congress (APC). I am most glad because he is from the North-east, the only zone alongside South-east that is yet to produce President of Nigeria,” the statement read.
READ ALSO: http://PDP chair, Iyorchia Ayu returns Sambo Dasuki’s N450m ‘gift’
“I have always maintained an unambiguous stand that for justice, equity and fairness in our country, the next president of Nigeria after President Muhammadu Buhari should come from the South-east or the North East.
“I have also told Nigerians that I would only run for president if the two major political parties (APC and PDP) zone their tickets to the South-east.
“That is why I was disappointed with our southern brothers, who are talking about fairness and equity but has zero tolerance for the same fairness and equity in the South.
“In the absence of a South Easterner being president of Nigeria in 2023, I have my full support for a North-easterner.
“This is because it would be the closest to the equity, fairness and Justice everyone is talking about. It further means that the justice is on its way to the South East.”
Sen. Kalu hinged his decision on the absence of zoning, adding that he plans to re-contest his seat in the Senate.
“I have also picked a ticket to run for Abia North Senatorial zone and to complete the good work I started in Abia North.
“I urge all my friends, allies and supporters in the APC to toe the line of justice by supporting Senator Ahmad Lawan, a North Easterner for the presidential ticket of the APC.”
A support group had procured the N100 million APC presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for the senate president and since handed it over to him.
