ŁGroups from the North-East have renewed calls on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the office of the Senate president to the region.
President of Justice and Development Consultative Forum, Mr. Elisha Cliff Ishaku, told journalists in Abuja yesterday that no political leader from the area had occupied the two exalted positions of Senate president and speaker of the House of Representatives since 1966.
He therefore urged the two leading contenders from the North-Central gunning for the Senate presidency, Senators Bukola Saraki and George Akume, to step down in the interest of peace, justice and fairness.
His words: “We are here to tell you that the North-East people are agitating for the Senate presidency to be zoned to us because since 1966, we have not had any share of the Senate presidency or the deputy.
“We have been marginalised and despite the fact that we have a big landmass, the allocations we get have been a pittance. We are requesting that the position of Senate presidency should be zoned to the North-East.” “It is no longer news that despite the security challenges, we still managed to produce the second highest number of votes for the APC.
“That is why we need the Senate presidency. On election day, Boko Haram attacked voters, yet we came out and voted for APC. We plead with the leadership of APC to zone the Senate presidency to the North-East.
Urging the ACF and other northern groups to intervene, Ishaku pleaded with the North-Central to leave that position to the north east because they have had enough.
“They should be their brothers’ keepers and give the position to us. We deserve it and it is our turn,” he added.
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