I don’t mind becoming Aso Rock sweeper if lawan becomes next president – Orji Kalu

Senate Chief Whip, Orji Uzor Kalu said on Monday he would not mind  becoming a sweeper in the  Presidential Villa, if Senate President Ahmad Lawan emerges as the nest president of Nigeria in 2023.

He said, “With Ahmad Lawan, I am ready to be the sweeper of the place (referring to Aso Rock). I don’t need to have a position if Ahmad Lawan is president. That is true.”

Kalu, who stated this on Channels Television’s Politics Today also claimed that nine presidential aspirants have indicated interests to step down for Lawan.

He said, “I want to tell you, I have spoken to nine candidates running for president, and they are ready, already discussing to step down for Ahmed Lawan.”

Kalu added that he had asked the aspirants to come with him and meet with the Senate President to negotiate face to face.

Though he refused to reveal the identities of the aspirants in question, Kalu swore that the individuals are ready to quit the race for Senator Lawan.

Saying that he could tell what the negotiations and demands of the supposed candidates will be when they meet with Lawan, Kalu said one thing he was sure Lawan will not do is refund each individual the 100 million naira which they paid to obtain their nomination forms.

“I made that one clear to them, nobody is returning any money to anyone, he said.

Asked if he dumped his presidential aspirant so he could become Lawan’s running mate, he said, “No! It is not true, I have already purchased my Senate form, I am very happy being in the Senate.”

Speaking further, he said what Nigeria needed at this point in time is leadership, adding that he has known the Senate President for 41 years now, “we were roommates at the university, he is strong enough to give the Nigerian people what they are looking for.”

He also accused southerners of betraying the South-East, saying: “We (Igbos) have supported South West, we supported President Obasanjo, we supported Vice President Osinbajo, we supported Vice President Jonathan for five years and we supported President Jonathan for 6 years, why can’t they support us?”

According to Kalu, since the presidency is not zoned to the South-East in the ruling party, then let the North-East have the mandate.

“Any southerner that is not from South East and is coming to run for president is a betrayer, they are the ones betraying us,” he said.