Northern CSOs Tell APC to Zone Senate President Office South-South

The Northern Nigeria Coalition of Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) has urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the Senate Presidency of the 10th Assembly to the south.

The Northern coalition believes that a southern minority should be supported as the next Senate President for national coercion, unity, and peace.

The coalition’s chairman, Mallam Danjuma Muhammad, and Secretary, Hon Adeyeye Olugbenga, made the announcement during a press conference in Abuja yesterday.

They also call for the support of former Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio, claiming that he belongs to the South’s minorities.

Muhammad, speaking on behalf of the group, stated that they decided to support Senator Akpabioa’s emergence as the immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs due to his merit, competence, and integrity.

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The coalition stated that its decision was motivated by Akpabio’s patriotism towards the Northern region as a bridge builder through synergies of social relationships and peaceful coexistence.

“It is on this premise that we, the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations in the North, decided to endorse and support the emergence of Distinguished Senator Godswill Akpabio, former Executive Governor of Akwa-Ibom State and immediate past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, as the next Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria, after a lengthy session of intensely debated permutations and deliberations.”

“Our decision to endorse and support Senator Godswill Akpabio for the coveted office of Senate President was motivated by the patriotic desire he has demonstrated towards our region as a bridge builder through synergies of social relationships and peaceful coexistences, as well as his zeal to ensure a smooth and amicable working relationship between the executive and legislative arms of government due to his wealth of administrative and legislative experience.”As the engine room of democratic governance, the National Assembly requires a man of positive action and uncommon leadership ability, such as Senator Godswill Akpabio, as its Chairman.

“From his antecedents and accomplishments, Senator Godswill Akpabio possesses the requisite quality of leadership and innate ability to lead the next National Assembly to successful deliberations, (without crises or fracas), to surmount the monumental challenges confronting the nation,” Muhammad said.

He noted that the office of Senate President has never been held by a Nigerian of Southern minority descent since the establishment of the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999.

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“However, despite our views and sentiments, we are bold to say that merit, competence, and integrity should not be sacrificed on the altar of mediocrity in determining who becomes the next Senate President of the Tenth Assembly, and we believe Senator Akpabio is the right man for the job,” he said.