Senate Presidency: Why we’re in support of Senator Orji Kalu –Yerima Shettima, ACYF leader
National Leader of Arewa Consultative Youth Forum (ACYF), Alhaji Yerima Shettima, has been quite critical on the Nigerian condition at different fora.
In this interview on Arise TV monitored in Lagos by Sunday Sun, he barred his mind on the contending issue of the 10th Senate and the race for the Red Chamber Presidency.
Shettima renewed his case for Senator Orji Uzor Kalu to clinch the Senate President seat, and why Senator Abdulaziz Yari, former governor of Zamfara State, and strong contender for the position, should concede to Senator Kalu. Excerpt:
Why are you supporting Dr Orji Uzor Kalu for the Senate Presidency and is your opinion widely accepted by the people in the North as well?
The question is very simple. If you know my previous position on issues or my antecedent, you will know that I always stand on principle and I just felt that at this critical period, this is a country where every citizen has equal rights and for me, I felt strongly that it’s better we have a country than have a country where there will be more divisions. And don’t forget vividly before 2014, we were more united, in 2015, we were more united compared to where we are today. We are more divided today and the country completely is at the point of more or less in disarray and I am bothered about the country and I just felt strongly that there is no way we can have a country where there is this so much suspicion in the minds of Nigerians where a lot of things are not really right. I thought you can only govern when there is a peaceful environment, where there is love for one another and that is the only way a government can strive. And to that extent, don’t forget that the election of 2023 also came up with other issues. The elections came in a very dicey way and when I say dicey I mean there is this serious dichotomy between Muslims and Christians that came with the election, there is also divisions among the ethnic nationalities that came with the election. And at this critical period all efforts must be made, all hands must be on deck to ensure that we unite the country together so that at the end of the day we can have a common, united country called Nigeria and that is where my thought and thinking came from. If we have Muslim-Muslim as President and Vice President, it will be out of place again to begin to assume that we will think of considering another Muslim also to be the Number three citizen of Nigeria. For me, I am of the view that in the spirit of equity, fairness and justice for all, we have to also look inwards and look at other parts of the country to come up with Number three, most likely, the Southeast. Over time, there is this perception that the North is ganging up against the Southeast even though the Southeast is not playing the game in a way it should be. Only few of them are playing the game in a way that it should be. But having said that, they remain Nigerians, they remain our brothers and at this point I felt strongly that if we can also give them a chance, give them all the necessary support to occupy the Number three seat, that will be good. And after our findings, we realised that the only face we have there is Orji Uzor Kalu and Orji Uzor Kalu, of course, from his antecedents, being a two-time governor and a Senator, the Chief Whip of the Senate, is one of the ranking Senators, but like I earlier said not because Yari is not qualified. Yari too, is an experienced two-time governor and a very good person, very straight forward person that I have always admired and I have a lot of respect for, but in the spirit of unity, in the spirit of having a country where we can all have peace and move forward then there is need for sacrifice. There is no way this government can do well when there is much agitations and at this time we cannot afford to have more or other agitations against what we have on ground. Look at the insecurity situation and more agitations… this country cannot stand, so in the spirit of oneness and love for the country, I think this is why I arrived at my conclusion to say that Orji Uzor Kalu should be allowed. Yari can discuss with him, let them agree within themselves because they are both Senators, they can agree and have a common understanding for the best interest of the country so that we can forge ahead.
You said they will discuss between themselves, but what has been the response from former Governor Yari since you pleaded with him and will he accept the Deputy Senate President position?
Well, I spoke out only 24 hours ago when I arrived at my conclusion after the consultations, I have not heard from Senator Yari or any of his associates or friends, but I strongly believe the message has gotten across to him, but we will continue to appeal to him. I am not in any way saying that he is not qualified, but I am saying that we must have a country and I believe Yari too is a patriotic Nigerian who believes strongly in the country and I know he will do everything possible to ensure that if this is what he is going to give out to allow the country to be at peace for us to move on, he will do. Not because there is any fear from any angle, no, but because we need a country where all citizens will be treated equally, in the spirit of oneness. I think we should think in that direction, so that we can carry everybody along in the spirit of oneness, one country. I think that is the best thing we can do for this country and it is not too much to make that sacrifice if both of them agree, then he becomes the Deputy Senate President. It is better than the choice their party (APC) is proposing, how their party looks at it, I don’t know how they arrive at it. I am sure we can look the side of the Southeast and give them the position for now.
– The Sun
