Ohaneze Ndigbo has raised alarm over alleged plots to foist a Senate President that will rock the presidency of the forthcoming administration of Senator Bola Tinubu.
Besides any other interests, the group said is that the plotters of the skirmish are presenting Igbo Senators whose baggage with EFCC and sundry agencies could smear the image of the administration and present the Igbo race in bad light.
They said that the forthcoming 10th Senate should adopt all legitimate measures to ensure emergence of reliable leadership of the Red chambers including the option of doctrine of necessity, ” we don’t need hatchet men of certain Governors who as Senate President will be miss representing the Igbo race in favor of their masters of today”.
The sociocultural group said that many Senators and Senators- elect were already jostling for the position of the Senate President of which caution should be exercised as to ensure that those who would unduly throw up issues that would ferment troubles among the various tiers of government are not allowed into the position.
The Secretary General of the Ohaneze Ndigbo, Mazi Okechuwu Isiguzoro in a press briefing in Abakaliki yesterday said that they are abreast of the characteristics of their sons including those who had been in the Senate.
They had earlier declared support for emergence of Governor David Umahi for Senate President.
“Herein then comes the need for the doctrine of necessity such that some House Rules could be reversed, allowing for even the best for the Senate President to emerge not minding if he/she is a first timer”
The group said that Umahi has demonstrated democratic tolerance without penchant for sectional politics.
Isiguzoro explained that it is obviously fair that the Senate president should this dispensation emerge from the South East geo-political zone.
Beyond the consideration of the South East for the position, the document stated that more important is the choice of the occupant of the office, posited that Nigeria currently need politicians with spread of acceptance and without bias of religion, ethnicity.
” Umahi fits in this. When some politicians here were pursuing selfish interests, Umahi who is currently the Senator- elect for Ebonyi South senatorial zone took his people into the mainstream of Nigerian politics, just like he saw tomorrow. He has made friends across the divide, he has demonstrated tolerance for all sections and strata, so is most fitted for the cap”.
” For the interest of unity, for the gains of Umahi’s proven commitment to one Nigeria, infrastructure and human development, also for the Igbo interest and need to galvanize support for our long sought chance to have one of us stride to presidency in the near future, we seek the support of all to enthrone Umahi as the next Senate President”.