...Urges Atiku, Obi to accept defeat
From Victor Nwegede, Abakaliki.
Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State has declared interest to contest for the 10th Senate Presidential Position a few days after the general elections.
Umahi announced this, Wednesday during the State Executive Council meeting at the new Government House, Ochudo Centenary City, Abakaliki.
The governor who emerged as the Senator-elect for Ebonyi South Senatorial District also urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu and his running mate, Kashima Shettima to consider zoning the Senate Presidential slot to the Southeast region of Nigeria.
He further recommended that the position of the Speaker, of the House of Representatives should be zoned to the Northwest region of Nigeria on the grounds of equity, fair play and justice in this new political transition in the country.
He observed that the equitable distribution of the key functionary positions in the 10th National Assembly would confide in Nigerians that the APC-led government has chosen to toe the path of reunion of the country.
Umahi described the emergence of President-elect Bola Tinubu and his Vice Kashim Shettima as a miraculous one.
He, however, urged the members of the National Assembly elect to set aside the protocol rules to get the best from them by ensuring that the Senate President slot is zoned to the South East region.
Announcing his interest, Umahi said: "I forward myself for the position of the Senate President," citing his experience in public service for the past sixteen years as the bases for assessing his qualifications and urged all the elected members of the 10th National Assembly to set aside rules for the best among them to emerge for the leadership of the country.
Governor Umahi had earlier urged the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi and his counterpart of the People's Democratic Party in the Saturday 25th February election, Atiku Abubakar to accept defeat by withdrawing from their lawsuits against the President-elect, Bola Tinubu and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to move the country forward.
He said: "I plead with Nigerians, especially those who contested with them, my dear brother His Excellency Peter Obi and His Excellency, the former president of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar, for the sake of peace, accept the victory" of Bola Tinubu as the country's president-elect.
