CSOs Commend Tinubu, APC For Reviewing Zoning In North Central Favour

A coalition of civil society organisations (CSO) under the aegis of Conference of Nigeria Civil Rights Activists (CNCRA) has welcomed the alleged resolve of the president-elect, Bola Tinubu, and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to review the 10th National Assembly (NASS) zoning arrangements.

The convener of CNCRA, Pastor Ifeanyi Odili, in a statement made available to journalists in Abuja yesterday, said the latest decision by the party and the president-elect shows that Tinubu is a true democrat who believes in equity, fairness and justice.

The APC had penultimate week, announced its much awaited zoning arrangements whereby the North West geopolitical zone was allocated two presiding positions while both the South South and the South East got one each.

The North Central geopolitical zone was completely left out in the arrangements and the development had sparked off a series of protests from stakeholders and politicians who worked so hard to ensure a resounding victory for Asiwaju Bola Tinubu during the presidential election in the zone.

But the CNCRA said the fact that Tinubu and the elders of the APC are considering the review of the zoning arrangements in such a way to accommodate the North Central will calm frayed nerves and instill confidence in the leaders of the zone who had over the years, exhibited loyalty and commitment to the APC and the president-elect.

A recent media report had revealed that the leadership of the APC and Tinubu, might have finally agreed to review the zoning arrangements for the 10th National Assembly presiding officers.

Investigations had indicated that the decision was taken following a meeting Tinubu had with a few of the aspirants shortly after he arrived from France on Saturday.

The newspaper learnt that aspirants including the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Idris Wase; Senator Godswill Akpabio; and Senator Sani Musa, and others, met separately with Tinubu.

A source at the residence of the president- elect explained that Wase, who is contesting the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, was the first to meet Asiwaju but that he left without saying goodbye to his colleagues after his behind-the-door encounter with Tinubu.

The source added that other aspirants who met with Tinubu however emerged after their discussion with the president elect in high spirit but refused to make any comments.