Senators-elect from the South-east Region are angry. They are upset over what they say is glaringly that the incoming All Progressives Congress, APC, Federal Government, to be led by President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, has no plans to accomodate their Zone in the leadership of Nigeria. The Senators-elect say that the Zone has gradually, but surely, been marginalised in the scheme of of leadership come May 29, 2023, the take-off date of the new Government.
What pains them most is the office of the Senate President which is slipping out of their hands. Not a few people, including majority of the Igbo, had thought that the APC, seeing the dicey situation in the country, would Zone the office to it – for balance, for fairness, for justice. They took it for granted.
So, about three of the Zone’s sons – Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, currently the Chief Whip of the Senate, Senator Osita Izunaso, newcomer, Engr. Dave Umahi- threw their hats in. They went lobbying every who-is-who, including President Muhammadu Buhari and President-elect Bola Tinubu to weigh in on their behalf.
While mum was the word from Buhari who has become a lame duck, not so from Tinubu. He dumped the South-east for the position and pitched his net with the South-south.
It was the Governor of Kano State, a close associate of Tinubu, who informed Nigerians that the immediate past Minister of the Niger Delta, who was a two-term Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, will be the Senate President. Aghast, many wondered how, and what had become of the South-east which took the office for granted as compensation for its long political marginalisation, especially, since 2015, under the APC Government.
They waited to see if Tinubu would debunk Ganduje’s statement.
But no.
Instead, one of their own, Umahi, stepped down for Akpabio and informed that President-elect, Tinubu, invited him and asked him to step down for Akpabio. Umahi then added: “Akpabio is my consensus candidate.”
Shocked, the Senators-elect from the Zone, across Party lines, including Kalu and Izunaso, except Umahi and four others, have risen in anger.
At a meeting in Abuja on Sunday, 6th May, 2023, they decried the brazen marginalisation of the South-east in the arrangement of political offices in the incoming Government. They bemoaned the fate of the Zone. They rejected the apparent endorsement of Akpabio by Tinubu and the APC leadership. They said, everything considered, the office should go to the South-east. They called on Tinubu to quickly correct the bewildering situation. And, among other reasons, decided that they would vote for any candidate from the Zone on the day of the inauguration of the National Assembly.
Following is full the text of the Communique read at the end of the meeting by its Convener, Senator Ifeanyi Uba, Anambra, of the Young Peoples Party, YPP.
“We have observed with dismay the antics of some persons with vested selfish interest, who have planted themselves around the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and have vowed to shut down the South-east from the Senate Presidency of the 10th Senate.
“Beyond ethnic and religious considerations, in the forthcoming 10th Senate, the South-east have been blessed with top ranking Senators, including members of the All Progressives Congress, APC, who have the capacity, competence, influence, experience and political followership to pilot the affairs of the Red Chamber.
“It becomes imperative that the All Progressives Congress, APC, uphold the principle of electoral justice and equity which it preaches, founded on Zoning the seat of the Senate to the SouthEast 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 opportunities to exercise their fundamental human rights during the APC Presidential Primaries.
“He should be conscious of the implication of zoning and choosing and endorsing a consensus candidate from the South-south without any regard for the South-east. Such a move will no doubt serve as a recipe for injustice which will culminate in restiveness.
“We implore the President Elect to be sensitive to the times in Nigeria and ensure that the country continues to thrive on equity, fairness and unity on the tripod of Nigeria that includes, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba and otthe geo political Zones.
“The country is already divided among ethnic and religious lines due to the exclusion of the South-east Region which formed the major reasons the APC received the amount of votes from the South-east. The incoming administration of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu must correct the anomalies by making sure that the South-east is given the opportunity to produce the next Senate President.
“With the sidelining of the South-east from producing the Presidential Candidates of the major political parties before the General Election, the only means in which the Region can be compensated and given a sense of belonging is by zoning the Senate Presidency to the region.
“This will restore confidence into the people of the South- east geo’political zone 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 have a strong viral progressive, prosperous and equitable nation.
“Mr President-elect, how will every Igbo Man feel after experiencing and having evidence of total discrimination?
“The South- east has been denied to produce a President since 1966. The South-south has produced a President for six Years and also produced a 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 of the South-east and the entire Igbo must be addressed by the incoming administration other than aggravating it.
“The South-west has President, the North-east has Vice President. It is only just that the least position that can assuage the South east is by giving it a chance to be the Senate President in the 10th Senate.
“On this note, we have collectively resolved that we will support the South-east aspirant of the APC. We are committed, and we have expanded negotiations with all well-meaning Senators- elect to rally round the South-east to ensure that the peace and unity of the country prevails.
“We remain hopeful that together, we will achieve a harmonious 10th Senate deepening the democracy, fairness and unity for our dear country.
“The Comminique was signed by Senator Orji Uzor Kalu, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, Senator Ifeanyi Ubah, Senator Victor Umeh, Senator Osita Izunaso, Senator Ezenwa Onyewuchi, Senator Tony Nwoye, Senator P.C Ndubueze, Senator Kelvin Chukwu, Senator Okey Ezea”
Recall that President-elect, Tinubu, pointedly, excluded the Igbo from the membership of the Presidential Inauguration Planning Committee.
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