The Equity and Justice Forum in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the national leadership of the ruling party not to make mistake of exclusion the North-central region from the National Assembly leadership positions.
The forum, however, recommended the incumbent Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Idris Wase as a suitable successor to the outgoing Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila.
APC had zoned the position of Speaker to the North-west and the Deputy Soeaker to the South-east.
But addressing a press conference, Thursday in Abuja, Chairman of the forum, Nuhu Ayuba Shikdima and Secretary, Alhaji Ahmadu Babanrabi, said the North-central zone having played a vital part by winning in four states out of the six states which is only second to the south-west would be left empty handed without any form of key elected position of authority as a fair deal for people of the North-central zone.
“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 is calling on the Chairman of our great Party, the President Elect and the good people of APC to as a matter of concern, for party interest, fairness to the people of North central zone consider zoning the position of the Speaker of the House of Representative to the good people of North central Zone of Nigeria.
“We are taken aback by the reasons given by proponents of this unbalance zoning that the North Central Zone has the APC National Chairman, this is laughable because The chairman of APC is for APC members only, while the six top elective positions are for governance and fot all Nigerians. Secondly party zoning is a different layer of zoning where all the geopolitical zones are taken care of rendering their arguments fluid.
“It should also be noted and known that Party positions are zoned to reflect adequate representation of all geopolitical zones unlike now that North Central has being schemed out in totality of elected position of authority if the position of the NWC prevails.
“Worthy of note is also that the North Central has not at any instance of the present democratic governance ever held the position of the Speaker of the House of Representative despite always being stabilizers of our democracy in Nigeria. We are driven aback with the news of the zoning of the speakership to the northwest by the NWC of APC.”
The forum also gave reasons why Hon Ahmed Idris Wase should be considered.
“As a Forum that has the interest of the North Central at heart, we wish to state unequivocally that North Central geopolitical zone have eminently qualified people to be elected as Speaker of the House of Representatives. One person that ought to be given the right of first refusal-is Rt. Hon Ahmed Idris Wase CON, a loyal, high ranking member with sixteen years of legislative experience during which he serve in many communities and chaired the Committee on Federal Character, was elected deputy majority leader and currently the Deputy Speaker House of Representatives.. who also doubles as the first deputy speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament.
“A great party man, a detribalized Nigerian, with impeccable character and humility that will sustained the dignity and vibrancy of the Green Chambers will be able to synergies with the executive arm of government for good governance and the development of Nigeria. This personality is imbued with wisdom, intelligence and impeccable character that can unite the Green Chambers across party lines for the progress and purposeful legislation in the National Assembly for the common good of all Nigerians.
“The idea of zoning is best done to achieve adequate representation of all aggregate political participants in the success story of a political party, it is therefore necessary and imperative for the All Progressives Congress to look inwards and rescind the position of the NWC by zoning the Speakership Position to the North Central zone of Nigeria on which will give a broader view for equity and justice.”