10th NASS: ‘I’m the best to succeed Lawan’, Senator Izunaso declares

Senator-elect to represent Imo West Senatorial District, Osita Izunaso, has declared himself as the most qualified to occupy the office of Senate President of the 10th National Assembly.

He made the declaration on Monday while speaking with journalists in Abuja.

The former National Organising Secretary of the APC formal declaration last week increased the number of contenders for the seat from the South East to three.

Before Senator Izunaso signified interest, Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu and Ebonyi state Governor, Dave Umahi who won the election last February to represent
Ebonyi South had made open declarations.

The APC National Working Committee is yet to make a pronouncement on zoning of offices of Presiding Officers, leaving the race open to federal lawmakers across the geo-political zones.

Checks revealed that from the South South, only former Akwa-Ibom State governor, Godswill Akpabio elected to the senate in the party in the race from the region.

From North West, two Senators who are eyeing the Senate leadership are Senator Jubrin Barau, representing Kano North and former Zamfara State Governor, Abdul Aziz Yari to represent Zamfara West. Senator representing Niger East, Sani Musa from North Central is also an aspirant for the Senate Presidency of the 10th National Assembly to be inaugurated in June.

Meanwhile, Senator Isunazo told journalists that it would be proper for the APC stakeholders to consider the South East which he noted has been marginalised and denied a sense of belonging.

He also argued that conceding the exalted seat to the region would douse the agitation for a separate Republic being instigated by the masterminds of the Independent Republic of Biafra.

He said: “The imperative of political inclusiveness and arresting the agitation for Biafra in the South East especially among the young people who have been misled into the nefarious activities by IPOB/ESN support the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the South East.

“It is politically wise to stop the Peter Obi and IPOB/ESN wave in the South East and the best way to achieve this is to have a man from the region in top three political positions and on order of protocols in Nigeria.”

He also declared that based on his experience as former member of the House of Representatives and the Red Chamber, coupled with being a former staff of the National Assembly, and former member of the APC National Working Committee, he is in the best position to promote harmonious working relationship between the Executive, the Parliament and the party national secretariat.