A North-west Progressive Forum (NPF) and regional partners has applauded President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s non-committal stance as the debate for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly rages.
Addressing a press conference in Kaduna yesterday, the conference convener, Nasir Dambatta said the NPF and associates from the South-South and the South East zones met and reviewed developments regarding the debate on which of Nigeria’s two regional blocks should produce the next Senate President.
Addressing the group, Dambatta stated that the conference, after reviewing developments in the country regarding the regional permutations for the Senate presidency and other key National Assembly positions, took cognizance of claims that some of the contenders have been “anointed”.
He said: “We are, however not bothered by these permutations as they are already part of our democratic culture.”
In a jointly signed speech by Nasir Dambatta, Convener; Moses Ekpeyong, South-south Chairman of Advocates for Justice & Fairness; Ifeanyi James Coordinator of New Era Democrats Assembly; and Fatima Mohammed of the Gender Advocates League.
“We note especially the twist taken by the debates that has potentially pitched the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu against the Northern region, which gave him the most votes in the February election,” the conference noted.
The conference also noted the North-west is on record as providing the highest percentage of votes of over 30% over and above every other geopolitical zone in the country.
“It is noteworthy to recall that Asiwaju Tinubu scored a total of 8.79 million broken down into: -North West: 30.0%, -South West: 25.9%, -North Central: 20.0%, -North East: 13.5%,-South South: 9.10%, -South East: 1.45%.
“We find it ridiculous, therefore, that even a zone that contributed a meagre 1.45% is finding it convenient to seek the Senate presidency”. They said.
