TheCable

Orji Uzor Kalu, chief whip of the senate, has declared his bid to run for the office of senate president.

Speaking with reporters in Abuja on Tuesday, Kalu, senator representing Abia north, said he would work for “every corner” of the country.

The former governor of Abia said he is willing to continue engaging Nigerians directly even as a presiding officer of the upper legislative chamber, adding that citizens should pray he gets the position because “it is my turn”.

“If I’m elected senate president, I’m going to work for every corner of Nigeria,” he said.

“I schooled in Maiduguri, Borno state. I started my business in Lagos and spread it across all state capitals. My first name will be team Nigeria, my last name will be team Nigeria.

“Remember, I am the only governor who has never changed my phone number, since I became governor 24 years ago. I am willing to still maintain that telephone number to answer all my calls. I am not going to switch off my phones because I became senate president

“I’m hoping that Nigerians will pray for me to become senate president because it’s my turn.”

Bola Tinubu, the president-elect, popularised the “it is my turn” phrase in the build-up to the All Progressives Congress (APC) primary poll in 2022.

The 10th national assembly will be inaugurated in June after the president issues a proclamation.