The North Central All Progressive Congress (APC) Forum has thrown its weight behind the National Working Committee’s (NWC) decision to zone the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly to the Southsouth and the Speaker to the Northwest.
The forum made their resolution known in Jos, the Plateau State capital recently, after an emergency meeting on the crises that came in the wake of the NWC declaration on zoning. Some aggrieved members of the incoming 10th National Assembly are kicking against the zoning formula.
Speaking on behalf of the forum, its Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Mandung Zazzaga said there is nothing wrong with the zoning of the position of Senate President to South-south and Speaker House of Representatives to the Northwest.
He also said the party’s choice on the consensus reached for the former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, as the next Senate President and Tajudeen Abass, from Kaduna State, as the Speaker of the House of Representatives is in order.
Zazzaga said all those aggrieved should sheath their swords and support the decision of the party under whose platform they also won elections and enjoy enormous support. He added that there are other appointive positions that are coming and various regions would be compensated.
The North Central APC Forum chairman reiterated the group’s call for the appointment of Governor Simon Lalong (North Central) as the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), adding that Lalong deserves the position not only as a performing governor of Plateau State, chairman of the Northern Governor’s Forum or the Director-General of Tinubu/Shettima Presidential Campaign Council, but also because he is an achiever and a goal getter.
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His words: “Recall that some members of our great party have recently been kicking against the zoning of positions of the Senate President and that of the Speakership of the 10th National Assembly by the APC National Working Committee (NWC).
“The party said it zoned the Senate President of the 10th National Assembly to the South-south and the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the Northwest. The party equally agreed on a consensus for the former Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as the next Senate President and Tajudeen Abass from Kaduna State as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
“We do not see how that should be causing any crises among the legislators from our party. All elective members of our party enjoyed the support of the party in one way or the order, and now to begin kicking against the party zoning arrangement of the National Assembly is not fair.
“But, we the North Central APC Forum have thrown our weight behind the party’s zoning arrangement and we also stand by the consensus of the Senate President and the Speaker. We all know the antecedents of Senator Godswill Akpabio as the Governor of Akwa Ibom State and even as a senator, as well as Tajudeen Abass from Kaduna State.
“And on the appointment of the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), we are affirming our support for Governor Simon Lalong. He has contributed to the development of our great party over the years and the emergence of our President-elect, Bola Tinubu and his able Vice, Kashim Shettima. Lalong is an achiever, a goal getter and a peacemaker.”
He stressed the need for all those aggrieved with the zoning to toe the line of peace and party progress and inculcate respect for party supremacy at all times since they believe in the party and also belong to it.
He urged the APC supporters to pray for smooth and successful inaugurations come May 29, saying that the incoming administration will fit in and do well and the nation will be better for it.