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Tag: Osita Izunaso

  • APC Group endorses Sen. Izunaso for Senate President

    APC Group endorses Sen. Izunaso for Senate President

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) Integrity Group, says it supports Sen. Osita Izunaso as President of the 10th Senate due to his patriotism, competence and political experience acquired in the National Assembly.

    This is contained in a statement issued in Abuja on Sunday and signed by the group’s National Coordinator, Malam Dawu Mohammed, and Secretary, Comrade Chisom Nwakanma, respectively.

    Sen. Izunaso, who is a current Senator-Elect representing Imo West, had declared his interest to be the President of the 10th Senate.

    The group described Sen. Izunaso as a senator-elect who had acquired quality education and legislative experiences in both the lower and upper Chambers of the National Assembly.

    “Distinguished Sen. Izunaso is a lawmaker who has demonstrated the competence and patriotism in both chambers.

    “He is a committed patriot, nationalist, a core party man, urbane, cosmopolitan in outlook and worldview, competent party administrator, journalist of repute and a lawyer,” it said.

    The group urged the National Working Committee of the APC to zone the position of the President of the 10th Senate to South-East in the interest of fairness and equity.

    According to the group, the most disadvantaged geopolitical zone in Nigeria since 1960 remained the South-East.

    “The post-May 29, 2023 leadership of two out of the three arms of government presents a unique dilemma for the country.

    “The President as the head of the Executive arm and government will be a Yoruba-Muslim and the Head of Judiciary will remain another Yoruba Muslim.”

    The group called for a strong Igbo patriot who would also be a Christian.

    “The South-South geopolitical zone has served as Vice President and President for a combined period of eight years since the return of civil rule in Nigeria in 1999.

    “The North-West has produced President twice with late President Umaru Yar’adua and outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, ditto for North-East that produced a Vice President in person of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from 1999-2007.”

    The group stated that in terms of political representation in APC, South-South had benefited more than the South-East since its formation.

    “Chief John Oyegun and Comrade Adams Oshiomole have been National Chairmen of APC while Sen. John Akpan Udoedehe from Akwa-Ibom served as National Secretary of the APC.

    “At the moment, Sen. Ovie Omo-Agege from Delta State is the Deputy Senate President.

    “By the time the 10th NASS will open on June 10th, 2023, Sen. Izunaso will be the most ranking federal lawmaker and Senator from South-East.

    “He was first elected into the House of Representatives in 2003 and later into the Senate in 2007.

    “He was a founding member of the APC since 2013 and member of the merger committee of the then opposition parties that formed the APC,” he said.

  • 10th NASS: Why Senate Presidency should go to South-East – Imo Senator

    10th NASS: Why Senate Presidency should go to South-East – Imo Senator

    Sen. Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo) says he is most qualified for the Senate Presidency of the 10th National Assembly, going by situations on ground.

    Izunaso said this when he spoke with in Abuja on Monday, saying that the South-East should be allowed to produce the Senate President for the 10th Assembly for justice, fairness and equity.

    He said he had the experience and capacity needed to ensure stability and a cordial working relationship between the Executive and Legislative haven been a lawmaker since 2003.

    Izunaso, also a former APC National Organising Secretary, said he was the most qualified ranking Senator, adding that allowing the South-East to produce the Senate President of the 10th assembly would help calm nerves in the zone.

    He said he was the only ranking Senator in the country’s political history that had worked as a staff of the two chambers of the National Assembly and later served as elected representative of the people.

    “In 1992, I worked as the Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Agunwa Anakwe. I also served as the Chief Press Secretary to Senate President, Chief Evans Nwerem with the return of civilian administration in 1999.

    “I had earlier served as Chief Press Secretary to the Minister of Youth and Sports, Chief Jim Nwobodo from 1995 to 1997 and retained same position with the Minister of Labour and Productivity from 1998 to 1999.

    “Haven been first elected into the House of Representatives in 2003 and later into the Senate in 2007, I am one of the most ranking Senators in the incoming 10th Assembly,” he said.

    He said he had also served as chairman of various committees, including:Rules and Business, Local and Foreign Debts, Housing, Gas, Foreign Affairs and Sports Development among others.

    Izunaso added that he sponsored many bills and led debates during plenary sessions.

    He said that with the election of Sen. Bola Tinubu as President-elect and Vice President-elect Sen. Kashim Shettima, the two top-most political offices in Nigeria had been taken by the South-West and North-East.

    “Political expediency, quest for national stability and cohesion dictate that the number three political position and the head of the Legislative arm of Government should go to the South-East.

    “And I am the most qualified and ranking Senator to take up that position and I have been consulting and meeting with critical party stakeholders, including my state governor on this,” he said.

    He added that he had also been meeting with other governors from the zone and had been receiving calls from stakeholders both within and outside his party urging him on.

    He said that the best way to douse ongoing tension, especially amongst those calling for sessetion was to have a man from the region in the top three political positions in the country.

    “My emergence as the Senate President of the 10th assembly will not only help douse tension in the South-East zone, but will give its people a sense of belonging.

    “Historically, the Nigerian federation has always rested on the tripod of three dominant ethnic groups of Hausa/Fulani, Yoruba and Igbo.

    “Under the current political dispensation, the Yoruba and Hausa/Fulani which now include Kanuri have produced the President and the Vice-President.

    “Having not produced the president of the country since independence except for the six months stint of Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi as Military Head of State in 1966.

    “The intense Igbo sentiment against political exclusion and marginalisation in Nigeria is justified,” Izunaso said, adding that this could be addressed if the South-East was allowed to produce the Senate President.

    He said the development would ensure inclusiveness and help arrest the agitation for Biafra in the South-East, especially among young people who had been misled by IPOB activities and other separatist movements.

    “To dilute this equation needs a strong Igbo patriot who will also be a Christian. The South-South geopolitical Zone has served as Vice-President and President for a combined period of eight years since return of civil rule in Nigeria in 1999.

    “The North-West has produced President twice with late President Umaru Yar’adua and outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari ditto for North-East that produced a Vice-President in person of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar from 1999-2007.

    “The North-East has again retained the Vice-Presidency. The most disadvantaged geopolitical zone in Nigeria since 1960 remains the South-East.

    “The 10th National Assembly gives us the opportunity to address the situation,” he said.

  • 10th NASS: Imo-West Senator demands to be Senate President

    10th NASS: Imo-West Senator demands to be Senate President

    Sen. Osita Izunaso (APC-Imo-West) met with President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja on Tuesday to intimate the president with his interest in the seat of the Senate President.

    He told newsmen after the meeting that there was the need to zone the Senate Presidency to the Southeast geopolitical zone.

    Izunaso said he is most suited for the position as he remains the highest ranking senator from the Southeast.

    “We are waiting for the party to zone the position to us. It is only fair and natural that the position be zoned to the Southeast.

    “Since, I’m the oldest senator from both the Southeast and South-South, it is obvious that I am vying.

    “There is no senator today in APC of Southeast or South-South extraction that did not meet me in the Senate. The Senate is an institution that believes in ranking.

    “I was in the House of Representatives before. I have been in the party for five good years.

    “I ran the party as National Organising Secretary, which saw us to victory in 2015 and in 2019. I think we have paid our dues,’’ he said.

    Izunaso is the third aspirant to the seat that had visited President Buhari in recent times.

    Others that had indicated interest in the seat are the Senate Chief Whip and former governor of Abia, Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, former governor of Ebonyi, Senator-elect Dave Umahi, and former governor of Akwa Ibom, Sen. Godswill Akpabio.