By Akpan David, Calabar
A group under the aegis of
National Coalition For Progressive Change (NCPC) has insisted that the national ruling party, APC, should not deprive the South-South geopolitical zone of the country the opportunity to produce the next Senate President.
In a statement signed by its national champion, Sunday Michael and Sir Felix Umeh, national secretary and released in Calabar on Thursday, they argued that the zone has not produced Senate President after late Dr Joseph Wayas occupied the office between 1979-1983.
They stated that depriving the zone the opportunity will amount to height of injustice.
They warned that Southeast, for instance, which is jostling to be considered has produced five senate President since 1963.
“It is on record too that since the inception of this Fourth Republic, south-south remains one of the zones that have never produced the Senate President whereas the South East has produced five Senate Presidents.
“Therefore, for equity, justice and fair play, which APC stands for, there is nèed to zone the Senate President of the 10th NASS, not only to South, but to former Governor nof Akwa Ibom State and former Minority Leader of the Senate, Dr Godswill Akpabio who is vastly experienced in both state and national politics as well as for his immense contributions to the rebuilding of the party in the zone.
“We need Akpabio as Senate President because he is a stabiliser, a trail blazer and somebody who can work with the President-Elect and unifies the three arms of government for the common development of our country.”
According to the statement, they believe that Akpabio is somebody that can take firm decisions and a party man who can criss-cross when it matters most to stabilise national polity using his widespread contacts as well as a detribalised leader.
“Akpabio’s nationalistic outlook and his penchant to transform situations wherevere he finds himself is a rare quality he posses high above any other contestant to the Senate Presidency seat.”
They further argued that Akpabio was able to deliver good votes for Tinubu -Shettima in the 2023 presidential elections more than some APC chieftains in South East.
