Ebonyi State governor, David Umahi, has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC); the president-elect and his vice, to zone the position of the president of the 10th Senate to the South-East zone for equity, fairness and justice.

Umahi also urged Peter Obi,  Atiku Abubakar and others who contested with President-elect Ahmed Tinubu in the recently concluded presidential elections, to embrace peace and join hands to rebuild the nation of Nigeria.

The governor called on the National Assembly to set aside its extant rules in order to allow the best leadership in the Senate to emerge.

Umahi made the call while declaring interest to contest for the position of the senate president yesterday during a live broadcast held at the state executive council chambers, Centenary City, Abakaliki.

He, however, said he would only join the race if it is zone to the South-East zone.

Umahi said: “Let me plead and request the leadership of APC, the President-elect, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the Vice President-elect, Alhaji Kashim Shetima, to please, for the sake of equity, fairness and justice, zone the Senate Presidency to the South-East and the Speaker of House of Representatives to the North-West.

“This is for inclusiveness, and to tell Nigerians that we are on the path for the reunion. It will also calm fraying nerves.

“I’m saying this with every sense of humility and gratitude to God for giving me the opportunity to be able to say this.”

The governor added, “What is a miracle? The miracle is when God sets aside rules and when protocols are broken. And I want to insist that the presidency of His Excellency, Alhaji Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Alhaji Kashim Shetima, is a miracle because no man would have done it if God didn’t intervene. All odds were against the APC family winning, but God intervened.

“So, it’s in the same vein that I ask the APC family, the National Assembly, to set aside the rules so that we can get the best for the leadership of the National Assembly. And if the leadership of the APC zones the Senate presidency to the South-East, I’m indicating interest, on the platform that I have been in public service in the past sixteen years and so, you can rightly say that I understand administration.

“The way of administering a state is more complex than other positions other than the office of the president. I want to put myself forward and I want to plead with the National Assembly to amend the rules.

“God is still the breaker of protocols. We should allow God to choose the best. Let’s not set obstacles for ourselves, because we have a focus to rebuild this country.

“So, I put myself forward without prejudice to what’s the will of God and the wish of the leadership of our party, the President-elect and the Vice President-elect.

“I will not go against their decision, but as a human being and out of conviction and the Grace of God upon me, I put myself forward subject to zoning the Senate presidency to the South-East.”

Umahi made the call to Atiku, Obi and others in a statewide broadcast and press conference held yesterday at the Executive Council Chambers, Government House, Abakaliki.

He charged the three political gladiators to see Tinubu and Shettima victory as the will of God, and admonished them against unnecessary litigations.

He also commended President Muhammadu Buhari and the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmud Yakubu, for the invaluable innovations brought into Nigeria’s electoral process.

He maintained that the innovations would progressively improve Nigeria’s electioneering process, adding that the paramount concern of every political leader should be nation building after elections.