A college of former and serving members of the National Assembly on the platform of Council of the Initiative, has called on the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone Senate Presidency to the South-south region and to a Christian.
The Council specifically settled for the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Senator Godswill Akpabio, as the next Senate President.
Addressing a news conference Thursday in Abuja, the Dean of the Initiative, Hon. Eseme Eyiboh, in company of other serving and former members of the National Assembly, said social justice forbid that one religion occupy the leadership of a country like Nigeria.
The Council said the emergence of Senator Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and Senator Kashim Shettima on a Muslim-Muslim ticket is enough reason to have a Christian Senate President from the South-south.
According to Hon. Eyiboh, the President-elect is from the South, the Senate President is expected to come from the South but all the states in the South-east has produced the Senate President since 1999, hence the need to look the way of South-south.
Eyiboh also argued that in terms of electoral contribution to the party’s victory, competence, record of performance, experience and and ability to provide good leadership, the immidiate past Minister of Niger Delta, Akpabio ticked all the boxes.
The former lawmaker declared that National Assembly’s leadership is not a reality show, hence should not be an all commers affairs.
“We are appealing to the leadership of the APC, the National Chairman is a former Senator and former governor, the same thing with the National Secretary. So, when we are talking about zoning, though it’s not a constitutional matter but it is to resolve the issue of social justice.
“It is our opinion as a messager of truth that the best we could ever have now is Senator Godswill Akpabio. This country requires leaders and not dealers.
“We are saying that in the spirit of brotherhood, since the Senate Presidency is coming to the South, it should come to the South-south.
“South-south has given much. We are asking that the Senate Presidency should come from the South-south. We appeal to the leadership of the APC that this is what is required now that Senator Godswill Akpabio should be given the opportunity to lead the 10th Assembly.”
Speaking on Senator Akpabio’s experience, Eyiboh said the Akwa Ibom born politician has been Commissioner for Local Government, Governor for eight years, Senator, Minister and recently re-elected.
When asked to speak on corruption allegation against Senator Akpabio, Hon. Eyiboh said being invited to EFCC or ICPC has nothing to do with the Senator’s integrity.
“The position of the law is that whoever alleges must proof and that proof is in the court of law. Going to EFCC or being invited to EFCC has nothing to do with Akpabio’s integrity, it doesn’t mean Akpabio is a corrupt politician. Akpabio is just a clean politician,” he said.
