The forthcoming ruling party, All Progressive Congress (APC) national convention may still not favour the south-east in terms of zoning under the leadership of Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello.
The convention which is billed to hold on the 26th of March at Eagles Square Abuja is causing a lot of political intrigues in the ruling party.
The South-East members of APC are disenchanted by the zoning formula that is not in favour of South East owing to former Senate President Ken Nnamani’s ambition to pick up the Deputy Chairmanship slot instead of going for the position of National Secretary which is more influencial.
In a press briefing on Thursday by the convener of Indigenous People of Nigeria (IPN) Mazi Dickson Nnamdi Iroegbu, the group waded into the matter and regretted the lopsidedness in terms of zoning political positions in APC.
It called on the party to reject in its entirety the proposed zoning formular as made by the Acting Caretaker Chairman, and immediately commence engagement to rectify it so as to bring sense of belonging to Nigerians from the Southeast.
Read part of the statement:
“Going by the zoning arrangement made public by the APC Caretaker Committee Chairman, H.E Sani Bello, the position of National Chairman is zoned to the North Central, Deputy Chairman North, to the Northwest, Deputy Chairman South to South East, and National Secretary to South West.
We observe that this zoning arrangement of political positions under the ruling APC is unjust to a section of the country, specifically, the Southeast. We view it disheartening that the APC is toying with the unity and oneness of Nigeria.
The view earlier expressed by APC was that the North and South swerved positions , such that all positions initially held by the North automatically go to the South and vice versa.
However, it is apparent that while the South West held the first chairmanship position of the party, Vice President and Speakership positions, and the North East Secretary and Senate President, members of the party from the South East are treated with disdain, giving the impression that they do not belong to the party.
Indeed, the manifold imbalance clearly manifest that the APC does not care about Nigeria’s unity, and one dares say that this move is very dangerous and portends danger to Nigeria’s corporate existence.
Needless to say that this is an unjust treatment so provocative and vindictive that immediate redress is required. Failure on the part of APC to correct the wrong treatment amounts to deepening the South East alienation and further threatening the corporate existence of Nigeria.
IPN is not unaware that Nigeria, under the watch of APC, has been in terrible disarray; and the Party cannot pretend to show comfort in this sad state by not doing anything to unite the people of Nigeria.
We the Indigenous People therefore frown seriously against this, and urge the party to take necessary steps towards the correction before the Convention.
IPN calls on well meaning Nigerians, particularly, leaders of Southeast in APC, to reject in its entirety the proposed zoning formular as made by the Acting Caretaker Chairman, and immediately commence engagement to rectify it so as to bring sense of belonging to Nigerians from the Southeast.
The insecurity, uprising, agitations and call for secession from the Southeast is clearly due to the injustice meted against the people of the zone.
We honestly, call on the National leadership and stakeholders of Southeast to rescind their decision and zone the position of National Secretary to the Southeast, just as PDP has done.
We also expect that the party will go further to ensure that the next presidential candidate of the APC should come from the Southeast in the Spirit of Justice, equity and fairness.
Our position can be excused by the assumption that it will amount to an overburden for a South East that has the zoning of presidency to still share equally with other zones. Otherwise our position is cemented by a recent statement credited to our elder statesman, the former President Olusegun Obasanjo that unless due care is taken to address all agitations, Nigeria may cease to exist beyond 2023.
May we, on a final note, reemphasize that IPN is neither a political association of the PDP nor APC, nor any of the political parties. We consider it a duty to ensure that political parties, especially the leading parties, do the right thing at all times for the good of Nigeria and Nigerians.
Signed:
Mazi Nnamdi Iroegbu
Convener: Indigenous People of Nigeria (IPN)
