S/South to APC leadership: give us Senate President for equity sake

Leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from the South-south geopolitical zone are canvassing the support of Nigerians, especially the leadership of the party to allow them occupy the office of the Senate President to the zone when the 9th Senate is inaugurated in June for the sake of equity.

National Vice Chairman of the party in charge of the zone, Ntufam Hilliard Eta said in a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja that as critical stakeholders in the Nigerian project, the zone deserves to be given the opportunity to play its role in the development of the nation.

He reminded Nigerians that when the zone occupied the same office during the second republic, there existed a cordial working relationship between the three arms of government devoid of the hiccups that has been associated with governance since the return to democracy in 1999.

He expressed confidence that a Senate President from the zone will rejuvenate the goodwill currently being enjoyed by the government and the APC in the zone.

Eta said: “As you are quite aware, we are celebrating our worthy victory at the polls in which Nigerians overwhelmingly re-elected our dear President Muhammadu Buhari and our great party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) for another tenure of four years. The results of the elections was a clear demonstration of our unflinching faith In the unity of our great country as citizens voted for Integrity, competence, performance, and for the general good of our country, devoid of ethnic or religious considerations.

“The leadership of the All Progressives Congress in the south south zone, therefore, wishes to join millions of Nigerians in congratulating Mr. President for his Victory at the just concluded general elections.

“In the days ahead, as our country strives to equitably zone offices to all the zones of the country, the South South zone, having considered so many factors, wish to state that our zone has and will continue to play a critical and pivotal roles in order to help our dear country, Nigeria achieve and realize all its inherent potentials.

“The leadership of our great Party ln the zone has done extreme hard work towards stabilizing the polity to ensure that business thrives in the region, and equally informing our teaming youths that development can only thrive in the atmosphere of peace.

“We appreciate all the leaders of the zone and we are grateful that our youths have reciprocated the good gesture of Mr. President, by embracing peace, as the panacea to continuous development of our region In particular, and the country in general. Gone are the days when ‘ youths’ restiveness will impede development.

“The south-south zone wishes to, therefore, call on Nigerians from all walks of life to support the zoning of the office of the Senate President to the South-South geo-political zone. It Is our firm conviction that zoning the office of the Senate President to the South-South geopolitical zone will rejuvenate the goodwill we are currently enjoying and ensure a balance of equity.

“We recall that when our son, Senator Joseph Waves held sway as the Senate President, he did our zone and the country very proud. During his tenure as the Senate President, we saw a harmonious working relationship between the Executive, Legislature and the Judiciary; and the benefit of this was for Nigerians.

Therefore, a Senate President from the South-South zone will stabilise the polity and focus on Its statutory role of making laws. Furthermore, a Senate President from the oil-rich region will avoid unnecessary rancour with the executive as has been witnessed in the recent past. South South zone is a major stake in the project Nigeria and thus will support Mr President to ensure he continues to deliver democratic dividend to Nigerians.

“We call on all Nigerians to support that the office of the Senate President is zoned to the South South Zone.”