By Olusegun Olanrewaju
Ondo State Governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has described the proposed zoning formula for the leadership positions in the National Assembly by the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a skewed arrangement that reinforces injustice and enhances inequity.
In a statement yesterday in his capacity as the Ondo State Governor and the Chairman of the South-West Governors’ Forum, Akeredolu said he noted with great concern and huge burden when he heard the news of the purported zoning arrangement released by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the ruling party regarding the leadership positions in the yet-to-be inaugurated National Assembly.
He said, “Aside from the unpretentious ambiguity in the purported press statement issued by the leadership of the APC, the contents, intentions, and motives of the zoning formula represent early signs of steps aimed at attempts to cabin the hard-earned presidency for our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, by a few individuals with eyes on Aso Rock power buttons.”
He added, “It is trite to aver, that, it stands logic on the head, that one geo-political zone, North-West, in this regard, will be favoured with two presiding officers positions out of four, while the North-Central suffers the consequences for its innocence and shrewd loyalty by having none.
“It is an insidious permutation that the North-East will be deprived in the face of the unsavoury generosity dispensed through two slots to a particular geo-political zone. It is self-repudiating for one to argue, therefore, that the Speaker of the House of Representatives cannot also emerge from the Northeast.
“Therefore, the move to zone the National Assembly leadership positions on the behest of interested personalities with perceived closeness to the President-elect manifesting, lays the dangerous foundation of distrust, needless suspicion, even as it structures nothing but a combination of booby traps. We must avoid all these.”
In Akeredolu’s permutation, “Let the North play a stronger, more robust and all-inclusive role in the emergence of the positions zoned to the region, especially the speakership.
“Furthermore, it strikes a huge ingratitude that the role of the Progressive Governors Forum appears unimportant.
“As leaders of the party in their respective states, there cannot be a greater disservice to them that a consensus was yet to be reached when the NWC hurriedly released a dangerous tool for the opposition in the guise of a zoning formula.
“To me, even on this note, it’s unacceptable. Does it not also exude a serious discomfort that the aspirants to the speakership were not consulted, approached, and effectively engaged before the purported zoning formula? It does, and so.
“It is in this regard that I salute the courage of the speakership aspirants for their show of solidarity, companionship, and applaud-able love for the party in their rejection, resentment, and objection to the brazenly tele-guided zoning arrangement that is skewed and targeted against some zones and identified individuals.
“Their action is commendable just as they are urged to ensure they pursue this to a logical conclusion. This is an unworkable arrangement that reinforces injustice and enhances inequity, and I join them in rejecting this zoning formula.
The Ondo governor, therefore, called on the APC NWC to follow the path of purity and justice.
He said, “It is perhaps expedient that Mr. President-elect interrogates this skewed arrangement and gives direction that reflects our collective commitment to equality and fairness.
“In this particular case, and to avoid a repeat of untoward situations, it is advised that the APC NWC immediately summons the National Executive Committee (NEC) after a robust National Caucus/Stakeholders parley to agree on terms that would strengthen our great party.”
