Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, the Senate Chief Whip and former governor of Abia State, has dropped out of the presidential candidacy for 2023 in favor of Senate President Ahmad Lawan.
Lawan, who hails from the Northeast, was among those who bought APC presidential nomination papers on Monday.
In an early Tuesday statement, Kalu noted that the Northeast, the Senate president’s zone, has not produced a president of the country, similar to the Southeast.
Buhari’s successor, according to Kalu, should come from the Northeast or Southeast.
“I congratulate Senator Ahmad Lawan @DrAhmadLawan, my friend, old roommate, and boss, on his decision to run for President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria under our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC),” Kalu tweeted via his Twitter profile, @OUKtweets.
“I am overjoyed because he is from the North East, the only zone in Nigeria, except from the South East, that has yet to produce a president.”
“I have always held an unequivocal position that the next president of Nigeria, following President Muhammadu Buhari, should come from the South East or the North East for the sake of justice, equality, and fairness in our nation.”
“I’ve also assured Nigerians that I’ll only run for president if the two major political parties (APC and PDP) allocate seats in the South East.” That is why I am disappointed in our southern brothers who preach about justice and equity yet have zero tolerance for the same in the South.
“In the event that a South Easterner is not elected President of Nigeria in 2023, I fully support a North Easterner.”
“This is because it would get the closest to the equity, fairness, and justice that everyone is discussing.” It also implies that justice is in route to the Southeast.
“I appreciate people who declared they would vote for me in the presidential election because they care about Nigerians.
“However, because there is no zoning and the election is open to all Nigerians, I am withdrawing from the presidential election in 2023.” I’ve also decided to run for the Abia North Senatorial zone in order to finish the fantastic job I started in Abia North.
“I implore all of my APC friends, allies, and supporters to follow the path of justice by endorsing Senator Ahmad Lawan, a North Easterner, on the party’s presidential ticket.”