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Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly, senators-elect from the South East geopolitical zone, have bluntly turned down the endorsement of Godswill Akpabio by some elements within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
They have also gone on to call on the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and the ruling APC to zone the position to the South East geopolitical zone.
The senators-elect warned that neglecting a major ethnic group like the Igbo will be a recipe for more crises and open display of marginalisation.
They spoke in Abuja on Sunday, after a meeting attended by nine out of 15 senators-elect from the region.
Reading a communique on behalf of others, the host, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, said they’ve also commenced consultations with senators elect from other geopolitical zones to support the aspiration of the South East.
The communique read: ‘We have observed with dismay the antics of persons with vested selfish interests who have planted themselves around the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and have vowed to shut out the South East from the Senate Presidency of the 10th Senate.
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‘Beyond ethnic and religious considerations, in the forthcoming 10th Senate, the Southeast has been blessed with ranking Senators-elect including members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) who have the cranial capacity, competence, influence, experience, and Political followership to pilot the affairs of the Red Chamber, it becomes imperative that the All Progressives Congress upholds the Principle of natural Justice and equity which it preaches founded on reasons and zone the seat of Senate President to the South East region.
‘The president-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu should extend the same democratic opportunity he received from the outgoing administration which gave all aspirants equal opportunity to exercise their fundamental and constitutional rights during the APC Presidential Primaries.
‘He should be conscious of the grave implications of zoning and endorsing a candidate from the South-South without any regard for the Southeast, such move will no doubt serve as a recipe for Injustice which will culminate to restiveness.
‘We implore the President-elect to be sensitive to the times in Nigeria and ensure the country continues to thrive on the party of equity, unity, and fairness to the tripod of Nigeria (Hausa Igbo Yoruba) and the geopolitical zones
‘The country is already divided amongst ethnic and religious lines due to the exclusion of the Southeast region, which formed the major reason the APC received the amount of votes from the Southeast. The incoming Administration of Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu must correct this anomaly by ensuring that the Southeast is given the opportunity to produce the next Senate President.
‘With the side-lining of the Southeast from producing the Presidential candidates of the major political parties before the general elections, the only means through which the zone can be compensated and given a sense of belonging is for the zone to produce the next Senate President as this will restore confidence of the people from the South-east and South-south geo-political zones and indeed all Nigerians in the unity of the country
‘The APC must rise above primordial and political interest and shun the winner takes all syndrome and pursue ethno-religious inclusivity and a strong, virile, united, progressive, prosperous, equitable and just democratic nation.
‘Mr president-elect, how would an average Igbo man feel after he sees evidence of total discrimination. The South East have been denied the chance of producing the president of Nigeria since 1966.
‘The South South has produced President for six years and also had Deputy Senate President in the outgoing administration. The only zone in the South that has not been favoured is the South East. The outcry of marginalization by the South East and the entire Igbo should be addressed by your incoming administration rather than aggravating it.
‘The South West has President, the North East has Vice President, it is only just that the least position at the moment that can assuage the South East is given the chance to be the President of the 10th Senate.
‘On this note we have collectively resolved to support South East aspirants of the APC. We remain committed and have since expanded negotiations with other well-meaning Senators-elect to rally round the South East to ensure that justice, fairness and unity of the country prevails.
‘We remain hopeful that together we shall achieve a harmonious 10th Senate, deepen democracy, fairness, and the unity of our dear country.’
The Eastern Updates gathered that those in attendance include Orji Uzor Kalu, Ifeanyi Ubah, Victor Umeh, Osita Izunaso, Ezenwa Oyewuchi, Tony Nwoye, PC Ndubueze, Okey Ezea, Kelvin Chukwu, and Osita Ngwu.
