The North Central All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftains have insisted that the zone produce the Speaker of the 10th Assembly.
The North-Central zone chieftains of the APC Equity and Justice Forum have condemned the zoning template approved by the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) on Monday.
Last week, the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) upheld the National Caucus’ zoning of the seat of Speaker of the 10th National Assembly to the North West, with Honourable Tajudeen Abass as the preferred candidate and Benjamin Kalu from Abia (South East) as the anointed candidate for Deputy Speaker.
Nuhu Ayuba, chairman of the group, Shikdima, and the secretary, Ahmadu Babanrabi, told a press conference in Abuja yesterday that the party turned a rumour and mere figment of imagination into an unpleasant reality.
The group criticized the zoning arrangement, claiming that what happened at the APC national caucus meeting was zoning to anointed candidates rather than geopolitical zones.
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“What was a rumor and was seen as a figment of some few individuals’ imaginations has now become a reality when it was said that the position of the Speakership of the 10th Assembly of House of Representatives is zoned to the 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,” Shikdima said.
“It suffices to say, therefore, that in zoning positions of governance, certain parameters must be considered; and these parameters are justice, equity, and fairness to all, which are cardinal principles on which the APC is founded.”
“It will be unprecedented for Nigerians to hear and confirm that the Speakership and Deputy Senate seats have been zoned to one geopolitical zone of Nigeria’s Northwest region in total disregard and consideration of the people of Nigeria’s North Central zone.”
“The North Central States have played vital and key roles in the APC’s victory in the 2023 National elections,” the forum stated. Because of its faith in the Nigerian project, the zone has always played a critical role in stabilizing our nascent democracy. The North Central deserves and demands that the Speaker of the House of Representatives zone it for perfect inclusion in the scheme of governance in the coming dispensation.
“Specifically, the Northwest Zone of Nigeria has 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 finally Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal for a period of 12 years in what is always said to be our nascent democracy in Nigeria.” Nigeria’s North Central Zone has never produced the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives.
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“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, are calling on the Chairman of our great Party, the President Elect, and the good people of APC to consider zoning the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives as a matter of concern, for party interest, and fairness to the people of North Central Zone.”
