TheCable

David Umahi, governor of Ebonyi, says the south-east geo-political zone deserves the office of senate president.

Umahi spoke with journalists on Tuesday after a private meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

Umahi said the south-east made considerable contributions to Bola Tinubu’s victory as the president-elect, adding that allowing the region to produce the next senate president would inspire buy-in from the opposition in the national assembly.

”I think that every region clamouring for the presidency of the senate to be zoned to it is the right of such people. If you look at the true reflection of our society, you will agree with me that the right thing to be done by our leaders without prejudice to their rights and thinking is that the south-east deserves the number three position,” he said.

“This is very important and I have always said that you can deliver somebody by the reason of the majority votes of particular regions but you also need the cooperation of the minority people to have a holistic nation to govern.

“So, for inclusiveness, unity of the country and for everybody to be carried along, the south-east deserves the position and so far, nobody has been able to say this is the reason why the south-east should not be given that position and I am pleading for that.

“I know what efforts we made as a people for the unity of the country. I know the way we were regarded and we understand that we are stronger while we are together and we made vows to our people while we were campaigning for APC, we assured them that we belong to an equitable and fair Nigeria.

“Now it has come to a point where that position we took should be put to practice and that is what we are begging for because the chain is as strong as the weakest link and it is time for healing, inclusiveness as well as the time to move this country forward.”

Umahi pointed out that he had garnered enough experience in the public sector as a two-term governor and from the private sector as a businessman, to lead the 10th senate.

“If you check my pedigree, you’ll find out that I am a man who has handled his businesses from scratch to multi-billions. I was dealing with people. I was not dealing with sticks. That is experience,” he said.

“I was a party chairman twice up to five years. I have managed a state successfully for almost eight years. I have all the experience, humility, honesty and integrity.”

The governor said he had informed President Buhari of his intention to run for the senate presidency.