Uzodimma not against party’s choice, Imo govt clarifies
All Progressives Congress (APC) online media outfit, the APC NewsOnline Television, has analysed the chances of aspirants for the position of Senate President in the coming 10th National Assembly.
The news medium consequently presented Senator Osita Izunaso as the only aspirant without a baggage and possessing the best qualifications, in terms of legislative experience, intellectual capacity and commitment to the party.
The outfit, which is popular for promoting and clarifying APC’s core objectives and ideological direction, has always been on the campaign machinery, since the party’s ascendancy to the national scene, and is allied to the APC BroomPlatform, a support group, serving as intellectual power house of the party.
After carrying out polling of Nigerian professionals, politicians and media practitioners on their legislative expectations for the next four years, the outfit found growing acceptance that while southeast should produce the Senate President, the senator-elect from Imo West, a long time APC strategist, should mount the rostrum of the Red Chambers.
It noted his stainless reputation and humble disposition, despite being on the political scene for the past three decades, unlike his main rival from the region, former Governor Orji Uzor Kalu.
It also found that similar charges by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) also made Godswill Akpabio unpalatable commodity for the prestigious office, especially as Nigerians look forward to a new political dispensation of renewed hope.
The poll found that while Abdulaziz Yari and Musa Sani were considered men of integrity and sizable northern backing, their disposition will make them open to an Osita Izunaso Senate Presidency, given that a northerner wields the Deputy Senate Presidency and northerners are projected to wield other principal positions.
MEANWHILE, Imo State has said its governor, Hope Uzodimma, is never part of any overt or covert gang up to scuttle the choice of the APC for Senate President.
The state government, which debunked the allegation, yesterday, said Uzodimma could not have been associated with such a plan, being a loyal party man.
In a statement issued in Owerri, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Declan Emelumba, said: “At no time did Uzodimma contemplate working against the choice of APC and the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for the leadership of the 10th Senate.
“As a loyal party man, the governor will stand firmly behind the choice of any person or persons chosen by the APC and the President-elect to lead the 10th Senate, and will, in fact, work assiduously for their emergence.”
Emelumba said: “The governor, as a loyal party man, would never work against the choices of the party, not to speak of supporting another candidate,” adding: “Since Uzodimma joined politics over 40 years ago, his reputation and integrity, as a loyal party man, has remained unassailable.”
The commissioner described the author of the story as a mischief-maker, seeking to destroy the hard-earned reputation of the governor.
He said: “Those who know my governor can attest to the fact that he is principled and disciplined. He is also bold and courageous. He doesn’t speak from both sides of the mouth. He leaves you in no doubt where he stands. And for the issue at hand, he supports the position of APC all the way.”
The commissioner, who cautioned media practitioners against wild speculations and publication of unconfirmed reports noted: “As a man who believes in the supremacy of the party, Uzodimma cannot swim against the people already anointed for those positions.”
