Senate Chief Whip Orji Kalu says he is not sure that Nigerians are ready for a president from the South-East geopolitical zone.
Kalu who was a former governor of Abia State, said the February 25 presidential election is not the best outing for the Igbo people because they need the support of five other regions for one of their own to get to Aso Rock.
He said this on The 2023 Verdict, Channels Television’s special election programme on Wednesday monitored by truthlivenews.com.
There are a number of contestants of Igbo extractions among the 18 presidential candidates for this year’s election. However, Labour Party’s Peter Obi has been ranked as one of the three top candidates for Saturday’s poll.
Kalu who is a senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for Abia North Senatorial District also dismissed the chances of Peter Obi’s Presidency
Kalu said the people of the South-East are the best professionals but not the best politicians.
He said people from the South East Region do politics with emotions urging them to stop doing politics with emotions but to do practical politics.
The lawmaker expressed confidence that the APC presidential candidate, Bola Tinubu will win in Abia State and in the zone.
Kalu further said the five aggrieved governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) known as the G5 or the Integrity Group will work for Tinubu’s ambition.
The G5 is made up of Governor Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Samuel Ortom (Benue), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia), and Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu).
They have been insistent that the PDP National Chairman, Iyorchia Ayu steps down for a southern replacement as a precondition to support PDP flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar.
The five governors have not publicly announced their preferred candidate but Ortom expressed strong support for Obi of late.
However, Kalu said he doesn’t believe Ortom, insisting that the G5 will work for Tinubu.