Group calls for zoning of senate presidency to South South

A group under the aegis of Coalition of South-South Community for United Nigeria, Justice and Equity has called on the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress, APC, the President-elect, Ahmed Tinubu and all the Senators elect to zone the senate presidency of the 10th National Assembly to the south part of the country for equity, fairness and justice.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, the Chairman of the Coalition, Eseme Eyibo said the group’s decision was informed by the fact that Nigeria, having had a president-elect from the southwest, a senate president from the south-south would be preferable.

He added that since the inception of democratic government in 1999, the southeast has produced five senate presidents noting that in the spirit of equity, the seat should be micro-zoned to South-south as the west is already occupying the position of the president of the country.

The Coalition said such a position needs a person who has the pedigree, capacity and experience.

According to him, “Since 1999 we have had a model that where the President goes is where the Senate President and Speaker goes. The South, which produces the oil has not been part of the priority list of the government.

“We are united by this demand, appeal and request to the APC, President-Elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, the Vice President-Elect and Senators-Elect that the position of Senate President should be zoned to the South-South.

“It is a request to the APC, the president-elect, Asiwaju Tinubu and all the well-meaning Nigerians that the office of the senate president should be zoned to the south-south.

“The reasons are very clear, since 1999, the position of the Senate President has always been occupied by one region.

“So, if we follow the model of what has been going on in this country each time the senate presidency comes to southern Nigeria it is usually micro-zoned to the South East.

“What an average Nigerian is looking for now, is strong institutions not strong individuals, sustainable development goals and we need somebody who has the pedigree and capacity to actualize that for a united Nigeria, that person is here in the south-south.