This short article covers the aforesaid topic. But, given the Nigerian political situation, the upcoming Tinubu/Shettima Ministry and APC leadership should endorse. The Tinubu/Shettima government, which intends to “strike the ground running,” must avoid a factionalized and uncooperative National Assembly (NASS) leadership.
The President-elect has long been known as a visionary, dedicated, passionate, patriotic, and reasonably fair-minded political figure with great public relations and human capital development skills. The President-elect should work with the APC Leadership to let the NASS pick its leaders while using these excellent traits and political knowledge. Such consideration would prevent schisms and diversions from imposing a leadership the legislators-elect does not favour. The APC Presidential Primary looked open until several Northern Governors demanded that the Party’s Presidential Ticket be allotted to Southern Nigeria for equality and fairness.
The Jagaba of Borgu won the ticket by a landslide and became President-elect. Many Nigerians believe that the President-elect would ultimately back NASS’s leadership election. This tiny article’s topic.
SWAMP DRAINAGE
Nigerians focus on the Senate because it has the constitutional right to approve or reject the President’s important candidates, including ministries, ambassadors, and heads of statutory agencies like EFCC, INEC, and others. Nigerians anticipate the incoming President to “drain the swamp” by dissolving the boards of hundreds of government agencies, including statutory bodies whose heads were just reappointed. The incoming President should choose largely new Chairmen and Board Members who would support his efforts to revive Nigerians’ hopes and ambitions. This is why the incoming President will require a Senate President who won’t be a rubber stamp but will lead the Senate to do good for the country.
Senate president-elect
Before the APC Presidential Primary, roughly 10 returning and new Senators-elect from five geopolitical zones (excluding the South-West) expressed interest in running for Senate President of the 10th Senate. For obvious reasons, Ranking Senator Barau Jibrin (North West) will become the 10th Senate President if the contest is open. While unresolved, the Senate President Seat will likely be designated to the South. In that event, the South-East will win since most Senators-elect feel a Southern Christian Senator should become Senate President for equality and fairness. They say Senator Orji Uzor Kalu is their top South candidate. But is Senator Kalu up to the task? How is his experience, qualification, team and leadership spirit, mutual respect with Senate colleagues, etc.?
Who’s OUK?
On April 21, 1960, Igbere, Abia State, Nigeria, Orji Uzor Kalu (OUK), CON, was born. Danbaiwan Hausa of Daura is one of his numerous Nigerian titles. Astute politician, successful private sector expert, entrepreneur, investor, and publisher. He was elected APC Senator for Abia North Senatorial District in 2019, re-elected in 2023, and appointed 9th Senate Chief Whip.
POLITICS
OUK was elected governor of Abia State twice. As a high-profile APC member and Ranking Senator, he understands Nigerian politics and its slippery slope.
EDUCATION
OUK attended the famed Barewa College, Zaria, which has produced numerous Nigerian heads of state and other dignitaries. He earned a B.A. in Political Science from Abia State University after studying Political Science in Maiduguri, Borno State. He earned a Diploma in Business Administration from Harvard University, a top Ivy League school.
CAREER (WORK EXPERIENCE) (WORK EXPERIENCE)
Senator Kalu was Borno State Water Board chairman in the North-East Geopolitical Zone. Eventually, he founded SLOK Holdings, a conglomerate with successful enterprises, including SLOK Nigeria Ltd, SLOK UK Ltd, Ojialex Furniture Co. Ltd, Adamawa Publishers Ltd, SLOK Vegetable Oil Ltd, SLOK Paper Factory Ltd, and SLOK US Incorporated. SLOK Korea Ltd., Supreme Oil Ltd., SLOK Airlines Ltd., Sun Publication Ltd., New Telegraph Newspaper, and First International Bank Ltd., among others.
Bridge builder
Senator Kalu builds and maintains ties throughout Nigeria without tribalism. Orji Uzor Kalu lives everywhere in Nigeria except Abia State. OUK promotes mutual respect, understanding, peace, progress, and growth in Nigeria across the Island in the Senate. As Senate Chief Whip and Ranking Senator, OUK is respected among Red Chamber colleagues.
After becoming Senate Chief Whip, all bills he organized were enacted and became laws, according to records. Senator Kalu is dedicated to fostering national unity and empowering Nigerian youth and women.
Local and global respect
Senator Kalu is respected locally and globally. He uses his high-level international relationships in Africa, Asia, the U.S. Senate, other government institutions, the U.K., and many European nations to benefit Nigeria and Nigerians.
HONOURS
Several national and international organizations have honoured OUK for his remarkable accomplishments in many fields. Commander of the Order of the Niger; National Merit Award from the Federal Government of Nigeria; Honorary Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Maiduguri and Abia State University. Industrialist of the Year by Nigeria Chamber of Commerce; Humanitarian Award by University of Nsukka Humanitarian Club; Volunteer Award by the International Association of Volunteers; European Union Special Award in Brussels, Belgium; Leon Sullivan Award by the World Bank, Washington DC, USA; and ‘Danbaiwan Hausa (gifted son of Hausa Kingdom) by HRH Emir of Daura, Katsina State, Nigeria.
Equity, accommodation, and justice
The incoming NASS should choose its leaders. OUK should be elected Senate President regardless of the South-support East for the Tinubu/Shettima ticket. Backing OUK may ease tension in the South-East and help APC win future elections.
President Buhari, who was also unpopular in the South-East, built the Second Niger Bridge, which had been abandoned for 40 years, in the spirit of accommodation.
Thus, in the 10th Senate, all APC Senators-elect and other stakeholders should elect Ranking Senator and Chief Whip of the current Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, as Senate President and highly experienced, highly educated, and highly regarded Ranking Senator Barau Jibrin (North West) as Deputy Senate President. The Tinubu/Shettima Government and Nigerians would benefit from a strong 10th Senate.
THE BEST
OUK has extensive private and public sector expertise and uses his P.R. skills internationally.
A skilled team player, OUK will assist the Tinubu/Shettima Government as Senate President.
If elected, Senate President Orji Uzor Kalu can unite the 10th Senate and the House of Reps to enable the Tinubu/Shettima Administration to “hit the ground running” in several crucial areas of Nigeria’s socio-economic development and technological advancement. OUK is the finest candidate for Senate President.
(Malam Farouk U. Muhammed, Kano, Nigeria)
