The Senate Chief Whip, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu has slammed the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for failing to zone its presidential ticket to the South.
Speaking in an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Kalu, a former Abia governor, said any candidate contesting the presidency and he or she is not from the South-East is a betrayer.
He said: “We have supported South West. We supported President Obasanjo, we supported Vice President Osinbajo, we supported Vice President Jonathan for five years and we supported President Jonathan for six years. Why can’t they support us?
“Any southerner that is not from South East and is coming to run for president is a betrayer. They are the ones betraying us.”
Naija News reports that Southern candidates in the APC include: Bola Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, Dimeji Bankole and others.
Meanwhile, Orji Uzor Kalu has stated that he is willing to be a “sweeper” at the Presidential Villa if Senate President Ahmed Lawan emerges President.
“With Ahmed Lawan, I am ready to be the sweeper of the place (Aso Rock). I don’t need to have a position if Ahmed Lawan is the president,” he said.
“I can sweep the Villa; my house is very close to the Villa. I can be the sweeper of the Villa; it is just a stone’s throw. I am not joking.”
He added that some APC presidential aspirants have agreed to step down and back Lawan to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023.
“I want to tell you, I have spoken to nine candidates running for president, and they are ready, already discussing to step down for Ahmed Lawan,” the lawmaker added.
This article was originally published on Nigeria News