By Cyril Mbah, Abuja.
A coalition of All Progressive Congress (APC) Geopolitical support groups has cried out against what it termed the gross marginalization of the North Central zone in the distribution of Principal offices in the composition of the 10th National Assembly.
The group stated that the discrimination against the north central has become so glaring as no position has been allotted yet by the APC to the zone.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja to ventilate the zone’s grievances on the matter, the leader of the group, Engr. AbdulAkeem Ifeshile who was flanked by other coordinators appealed to the APC to deal fairly with the zone which produced eleven senators and gave the party more than 400,000 votes during the 2023 presidential election.
According to the spokesman, members of Coalition of APC Geopolitical Support Group are not happy with the “the gross and open marginalisation of the North-Central geopolitical zone in the sharing of principal officials/positions of the 10th National Assembly of Nigeria.
“The North-Central has been left out in the appointment of key positions in the 10th Assembly, and this has created a sense of marginalisation and a feeling of neglect among the people of the zone.
“The North Central is one of the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria and has contributed significantly to the development, growth, progress and more importantly the success of the just concluded 2023 General elections.
“Moreso, Senators from the zone stepped down from contesting the position of Senate President to Deputy Senate President in order to give way for a Christian from Southern Nigeria to emerge.”
The group also adopted Senator Mohammed Sani Musa as the candidate fit for the position of deputy Senate President owing to his wealth of experience in the Senate and various sacrifices he had made for the party, noting that, rewarding the Senator representing Niger East for his loyalty and steadfastness for the party would not be a misplaced priorities.
In a communique issued at the press briefing 12-points observations were made as the position of the group in addressing the issue of marginalisation of the North-Central zone and thus reads:
1. The National Assembly is a critical institution of our democracy, and it is important that all geopolitical zones are adequately represented in the leadership positions.
2. We note with concern that the recent sharing of principal positions in the 10th Assembly has not reflected the federal character principle enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, particularly with regards to North central.
3. The marginalization of North Central in the sharing of principal positions in the National Assembly is unacceptable and undermines the principles of equity, fairness, and justice that are essential for the stability and progress of our country.
4. We call on the leadership of the party, particularly, the President-elect, Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to urgently address this issue by ensuring that North-Central geopolitical zone is adequately represented in the sharing of principal positions.
5. We also call on the Federal Government to take steps to address the underlying causes of this marginalization and to ensure that all geopolitical zones are treated fairly and equitably in all spheres of government.
6. We have equally resolved and unanimously agreed upon that Senator Muhammed Sani Musa (CON), a Senator representing Niger East has also been adopted by the senators elected on the platform of APC from the North-Central zone for the office of Deputy Senate President
7. We want to make it categorically clear that, North-Central geopolitical zone cannot not continue to take the back seat in Nigerian project as Nigerian Constitution, particularly, the 1999 Constitution, is unambiguously and explicitly against inequality in running the affairs of the nation.
8. The constitution provides that there should be equality, social and political justice for all Nigerians. In particular, Section 17, subsection 1 of the 1999 Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria states: “The State social order is founded on ideals of Freedom, Equality and Justice”.
9. It is not a gainsaying that, none of us is done in Nigeria as long as injustice and gross inequality persist in power-sharing as well as in all other affairs of our great country.
10. Once again, we specifically call and appeal to the President-elect, Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to see justice as a veritable tool in addressing so many National issues bedeviling Nigeria and address them as a matter of urgency so as to keep the country going on the peaceful coexistence path we have taken since the regain of modern democracy in Nigeria.
11. As a group, we strongly appeal to the leaders of our great party to go back to the drawing boards to bring justice and patriotism to bear and consider North-central geopolitical zone in the sharing of the principal positions in the composition of the 10th Assembly.
12. Historically, the North-Central has always been a most senior partner and stabilising factor in economic and socio-political development of Nigeria
The group urged Media and all Nigerians to join in calling for a more inclusive and equitable Nigeria, where every citizen is treated with dignity and respect, and where no one is left behind.
Recall, the Ondo State Governor, Arakunrin Rotimi Akeredolu had immediately came out to condemn the zoning arrangement of the party saying that it unacceptable and undermines the principles of justice, equity and fairness.
The governor added that for a zone to have two positions leaving other without any calls for serious concerns. He asked the leadership of the party to as a matter of urgency to go back to the drawing board to address the issue of marginalisation.
Present at the event were the North Central, Amb. (Dr) Tajudeen Ibrahim Olesin, South-East Coordinator, Miss Rosemary Nwosu, South South Coordinator Dr. Ekoeyoung Etim Besset among others.
