The Chairman of the South East / South South Youths for Tinubu 2023, Amb. Bernard Francis, has reiterated their stands on supporting the All Progressive Congress presidential candidate Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in the 2023 election. Reacting to some quarters of public perceptions that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, who doubled to be the Chief Whip of the 9th Senate, should support a presidential candidate from the South East. Bernard, in a briefing, said that Sen. Orji Kalu has same fundamental rights, just like other compatriots has, which was exercised during the 2007 presidential elections, from the south East region.
Bernard, who noted that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, was on the ballot in the 2007 presidential election that saw majority of the people from the South East, exercised their liberty, in their alliance to campaign for the candidates of their choices without anyone raising eye brows nor sentimental accusations.
He further stated that Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, as a stakeholder and the leader of his party in his state, has no issues with the party, to warrant him leave the All Progressive Congress, haven achieved much for his people, through his engagements, as he said.
“Unless for mare envy or wickedness, no body has the right to challenge Nigerians on whom to support in any given elections. It is a fundamental right that can not be traded for sentimental, emotional, religious nor ethnic interjections.
“Orji Kalu is among the South East politicians that has the interests of his people from his region as his top most priority. Depending on individual perception, Orji Kalu has contributed to the struggles of his region in various ways in the past, as he’s equally on it, in the present political undertones.
“In 2007, when Orji Uzor Kalu ran for the presidency under the PPA, we had lots of compatriots from the southeast, that championed their various political interests in different political parties. Many threw their support on candidates from the North, having a candidate from the South East on the ballot in 2007. Orji Uzor Kalu and his political party then, did not accuse the region for supporting their choice of candidates, he rather saw it the way, every other political inclined persons would see it, for politics is all about interest and ideologies.
“Let me tell you something, so many people are talking about South East producing the president in 2023, but they failed to talk, some years before this election, when Orji Kalu was always on the media, on the need to zone the 2023 presidential election to the South East. We all know that the South East or any region can not win election in Nigeria, without proper alliance with other regions. This are pure political facts.
“Today, Orji Kalu, is blamed for not supporting a president from the South East. laughably, it is seen as a political calculation to machete Dist. Orji Kalu’s personality ahead of the elections. However, the question is, should Orji Kalu flag a ticket for his Senate from the All Progressive Congress and now campaign for presidential candidates of another party? ironically No, or Would it be an anti party activity that can truncate his Senatorial ticket? The answer is yes. It was this same reasons that made many politicians not to support his presidential race in the 2007 presidential election. That is speaking facts to politics and the constitution of various political parties.
“Sen. Orji Uzor Kalu, has same rights as other citizens. He is also to abide by the rules and regulations governing his political party, the All Progressive Congress. Politics is beyond sentiments, it’s rather a thing of interest and how beneficial such interests are disseminated into building a better society.
“It’s a good thing that Nigeria politics is advancing, with Nigerians actively willing to participate in the process. That does not mean we should remove the morals of the process. Instead of attacking Orji Kalu for supporting Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his choice, such energy should be channeled on issue based facts, on why a candidate should not be supported and not to entrap Nigerians with tribal nor religious sentiments” he concluded.
