We have equally resolved and unanimously agreed upon that Senator Mohammed 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.
Says, North Central Openly Marginalised
… Endorses Sani Musa fior Deputy Senate President’s Position
By Abdulrahman Aliagan, Abuja
In a desire to ensure that all regions of the country are adequately represented in the decision-making process of the country, a political pressure group under the auspices of Coalition of APC Geopolitical Support Group has condemned the zoning arrangement of the principal positions of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly, saying, “it is unacceptable, it undermines the principle of justice, equity and fairness, it is as well a clear case of openly and gross marginalization of North-central geopolitical zone in the scheme of governance of the country.
The group therefore calls on the National Chairman of All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Abdullahi Adam, the President-elect, Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other party leaders to as a matter of urgency go back to the drawing board to address the issue of gross marginalization of North Central in the composition of the principal officials of the 10th National Assembly.
The group also resolved and unanimously agreed that the position of the Deputy Senate President be conceded to the North-Central zone and be given to the Distinguished Senator Mohammed Sani Musa CON, a senator representing the Niger East Senatorial District, noting that he has sacrificed and contributed so much to the party and should be rewarded for his unwavering loyalty.
Senator Mohammed Sani Musa, Senator representing Niger East
In a communique issued and readout by the South-West Coordinator of the group, Engr. Abdulakeem Ifeshile at a press briefing organisaed by the group in Abuja, while briefing the newsmen, he stated that the members of the Group met to discuss the issue of marginalization of the Zone, particularly in the sharing of principal positions in the 10th National Assembly as announced by the National Publicity Secretary of APC, Felix Morka communicating the position of the National Working Committee (NWC) of APC to the public. In the statement, APC zoned Senate President, South-south, Senator Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Deputy Senate President to North West, Senator Barau Jubrin from Kano, Speaker of House of Representative also to North west, Hon. Abass Tajudeen, Kaduna abd Deputy Speaker to South East, Hon. Ben Kalu.
The group, after a careful review of the situation, it therefore observed that, “The National Assembly is a critical institution of Nigeria’s democracy, and it is important that all geopolitical zones are adequately represented in the leadership positions.
“We note with concerns 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.
“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.
“We call on the leadership of the party, particularly, the party chairman, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the President-elect, Senator Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and other critical stakeholders of the party to urgently address this issue by ensuring that North-Central geopolitical zone is adequately represented in the sharing of principal positions.”
It also calls 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.
The group has however thrown their weight behind Senator Mohammed Sani Musa for the position of Deputy Senate President noting that the senator has paid his due for the north central zone and the party at large.
According to the communique, “We have equally resolved and unanimously agreed upon that Senator Mohammed 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”
It further stated that, “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.”
It said that the constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria 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”. It said.
While fielding question from the Journalists, the North Central Coordinator, Amb. (Dr) Ibrahim Tajudeen Olesin pointed out that the marginalization of North Central zone is becoming too glaring that the party wanted to cutoff the zone from the political arrangements.
Dr. Olesin quarried the yardstick that gave the North-West two principal positions and leaving North-Central out completely. He noted that North Central delivered five states out of six state of the zone and gave over 400, 000 vote margin in the Presidential election as against the North west that delivered only three states. It will be a great case of injustice and unfair to the people of the region who gave their total support to the success of the party.
He therefore 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.
According to him, “Undoubtedly, the geopolitical zone has contributed immensely to the growth, development, progress and success of the Party, particularly, during the just concluded 2023 General elections. The zone comfortably delivered five (5) out of six states that made up the zone.
“It is unfortunate that the zone has been overlooked and neglect in the appointment of principal officials of the 10th Assembly. This has created a sense of marginalization, animosity and a feeling of neglect among the people of the zone.” He said.
Earlier, present at the occasion were other principal members of the group, the South-east Coordinator, Miss Rosemary Nwosu, South-south Coordinator Dr. Ekpeyoung Etim Besset, North West Coordinator, Dr Mohammed Hamisu, North East Coordinator, Alhaji Abubakar Yau and Hon. Abdulmajeed O, Speaker Oodua Youth Parliament, a Civil Society Organisation.
Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State
In a related development, Governor Rotimi Akeredolu of Ondo State had come out to reject the zoning arrangement for the leadership positions of the 10th National Assembly, announced by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The governor, in a statement issued in Akure, the Ondo state capital, specifically wondered why a political zone would be favoured with two slots at the instance of others in the “permutation” carried out by the ruling party.
According to him, “It is an insidious permutation that a zone will be deprived in the face of the unsavoury generosity dispensed through two slots to a particular geo-political zone. It is self-repudiating for one to argue, therefore, that the Speaker of the House of Representatives cannot also emerge from the North East.
“Therefore, the move to zone the National Assembly leadership positions on the behest of interested personalities with perceived closeness to the President-elect manifestingly lays the dangerous foundation of distrust, and needless suspicion even as it structures nothing but a combination of booby traps. We must avoid all these,” he said.
It is then behooves the leadership of the party, in the interest of justice, equity and fairness to go back to the drawing board to address the issue of marginalization so as not to open a new face of threat to Nigeria’s national unity.
