Stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the North Central have insisted that the zone must produce the Speaker of the 10th Assembly.
The stakeholders under the aegis of APC Equity and Justice Forum, North-Central zone, condemned the zoning template ratified by the party National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday.
The meeting of the APC NWC had upheld the National Caucus zoning of the seat of Speaker of the 10th National Assembly to North West with Honourable Tajudeen Abass ( Zaria Federal Constituency) as favoured candidate and Benjamin Kalu, representing Bende Federal Constituency, Abia (South East) as anointed candidate for Deputy Speaker.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja yesterday in Abuja, chairman of the forum, Nuhu Ayuba Shikdima, and secretary, Ahmadu Babanrabi, said the party turned a rumour and mere figment of imagination into an unpleasant reality.
According to the APC Equity and Justice Forum, North-Central, zoning of deputy Senate president and Speaker of the House of Representatives to the same North West zone was inimical to national cohesion.
The forum faulted the zoning arrangement, saying what played out at the APC national caucus meeting was zoning to anointed candidates, not to geo- political zones.
Shikdima said, “What was a rumor and was seen as figment of the imagination of some few individuals has now become a reality when it was said that the position of the Speakership of the 10th Assembly of House of Representative is zoned to North-West geopolitical Zone of Nigeria and microzone to an individual in addition to the same zone taking the slot of the Deputy Senate President as released in a press statement by the National Working Committee of APC.
“It suffices to say therefore that in zoning position of governance, certain parameters must be put into consideration; and these parameters are justice, equity and fairness to all which are cardinal principles that APC is anchored on.
“It will be unheard of for Nigerians to hear and confirm that the Speakership position and Deputy Senate seats respectively have been zoned to one geopolitical zone of Northwest region of Nigeria in total disregard and consideration of the people of North central zone of Nigeria.”
The APC Equity and Justice Forum, North Central, urged the APC NWC to consider the contributions of the zone to the victory of the president elect and review the zoning arrangement already ratified.
It recalled that unlike the North West, no one from the North Central has ever occupied the seat of Speaker since the inception of democracy in 1999.
The forum noted: “The North Central States have played vital and key roles in the victory of APC recorded in the 2023 National elections. The zone has always played the key role of stabilizing our nascent democracy because of its belief in the Nigerian project. The North Central deserves and demand the zoning of the Speaker House of Representatives to be zoned to it for perfect inclusion in the scheme of affairs of governance in this coming dispensation.
“Particularly, that Northwest Zone of Nigeria has at several instances had a stint of the leadership position of the House of Representatives in four instances ranging from, Rt. Hon. Salisu Buhari, Rt. Hon. Ghali Na’aba, Rt. Hon. Bello Masari and lastly Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal for a period of 12 years in the last twenty four years of what is always said to be our nascent democracy in Nigeria. The North Central Zone of Nigeria has not at any given time produced the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.
“Given the statute and the spread of the first six positions of leadership and governance in Nigerian polity; when the President-elect would be sworn in, the North Central zone having played a vital part by winning in four states out of the six states which is only second to the south west would be left empty handed without any form of key elected position of authority as a fair deal for people of the North Central Zone.
“It is on this note that we as a forum driven by the principle of equity and justice to all and being part of the success story in terms of political participation and involvement in the victory of the APC as a party is calling on the Chairman of our great Party, the President Elect and the good people of APC to as a matter of concern, for party interest, fairness to the people of North central zone consider zoning the position of the Speaker of the House of Representative to the good people of North central Zone of Nigeria.”.
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