By Charles Adingupu
The lingering crisis threatening to tear the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) apart is gradually creeping into unprecedented crescendo as the Chairman, Southwest Governors’ Forum and Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu has joined forces with other members criticizing the party’s proposed zoning formula for National Assembly leadership positions.
The APC during the week, announced that it has zoned the leadership positions for the emerging 10th National Assembly to various regions.
Under the zoning arrangements, the former Minister of the Niger Delta, Mr. Godswill Akpabio from the south south geopolitical zone was named as the Senate President of the 10th Senate, while Mr. Barau Jubrin from the North-West was listed as his Deputy.
Also the APC’s National Working Committee (NWC) endorsed the candidature of Tajudeen Abass from the North-West as Speaker and Benjamin Kalu as Deputy Speaker of the House of Representative.
Akeredolu stated that the News of the purported zoning arrangements released by the APC’s NWC as regards the leadership positions in the yet-to-be inaugurated National Assembly has become a huge burden.
He noted in dismay that aside from the unpretentious ambiguity in the purported press statement by the leadership of the APC, the contents and motives of the zoning formula represents early signs of steps aimed at attempts to cabin the hard-earned Presidency of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by few individuals with eyes on Aso Rock Power Buttons.
The Governor posited that it was illogical that one geopolitical zone, Northwest in this regard, would be favoured with two presiding officers positions out of four, leaving North Central to suffer the consequences for it’s innocence and shrewd loyalty.
Akeredolu who described the zoning arrangements as an insidious permutation as it deprived the North East in the face of unsavoury generosity dispensed through two slots to a particular geopolitical zone, stated that it would be self repudiating to posit why the Speaker of the House of Representative cannot also emerge from the North East.
Against this backdrop, the Governor noted that the move to micro zone the NASS Leadership positions on the behest of interested personalities with perceived closeness to the President elect, manifestingly lays the dangerous foundation of mistrust, needless suspicion which must be avoided at all cost.
He stated that the North must play a more robust and all inclusive roles in the emergence of the positions zoned to the region, particularly in the Speakership.
Akeredolu stated that it was a demonstration of huge ingratitude by the party’s NWC to ignore the role of the Progressive Governors’Forum.
His words:” As leaders of the party in their respective states, there cannot be a greater disservice to them that a consensus was yet to be reached when the NWC hurriedly released a dangerous tool for the opposition in the guise of a zoning formula.
“Does it not also exude a serious discomfort that the aspirants to the Speakership were not consulted, approached and effectively engaged before the purported zoning formula?
“It is in this regard that I salute the courage of the Speakership aspirants for their show of solidarity, companionship and applaudable love for the party in their rejection to the brazenly teleguided zoning arrangements that was skewed and targeted against some zones and identified individuals.”
The Governor who enjoined the NASS Leadership aspirants to pursue their case against the party’s skewed zoning plan to its logical conclusion, noted that the impracticable arrangements helps to reinforce injustice and enhances inequality.
In this regard, the Governor urged the APC NWC to toll the path of purity and justice by reversing the arrangements.
Akeredolu, however, called on the President elect to interrogate the skewed arrangements as well give direction that reflects our collective commitment to equality and fairness.
He further enjoined the APC’s NWC to as matter of expediency summons the National Executive Committee (NEC) after robust National Caucus/Stakeholders parley to agree on terms that would strengthen the party
