THE MORAL BURDEN OF AREWA

Political expediency demands APC zones senate presidency to North Central, argues Yahaya Tanko

Nigeria is a unique country. Her uniqueness typifies every gamut of life. From history to culture, geography, economy and politics, everything and anything about Nigeria is truly unique and peculiar. Indeed, the country has succeeded; consciously and unconsciously, in creating her brand in all sphere of human existence. Perhaps, the uniqueness and peculiarity of brand Nigeria is more visible in our politics. Over the years, every political development in Nigeria has thrown up fresh and new dialectics which usually confound the textbook prognosis of renowned analysts and commentators.

Recall that years before the 2015 general elections, there were widespread postulation and prophecy that Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world, would disintegrate. Years, months, weeks and days to the 2015 polls, there was palpable fear, anxiety and apprehension across the country.

The 2015 Election has come and gone. The peace and serenity that enveloped the nation during and after the general election has once again, thrown up the uniqueness of the Nigerian nation. The peaceful fall-out of the 2015 polls has attracted global encomium to Nigeria. Somehow, the excitement that pervaded the polity is been heated-up by the leadership of the victorious All Progressives Congress. The race for the Senate Presidency is generating unnecessary political controversy and tension. For some time now, the print and electronic media have been awash with stories and reports of ongoing intrigues, meetings, endorsement, zoning and re-zoning of persons and groups for the Number three position.

True, considering the strategic role of the legislature, more importantly the Upper Chamber where the Senate President is the Head of Nigeria’s Legislature, it is absolutely necessary that the APC gets it right. The rhythm played by APC, from the outset, will shape the direction and delivery of the new government.

The writer strongly agrees that issues of ethnic and religious affiliation play key roles in determining who gets what in Nigeria. Given the sensitive times Nigeria is going through, it is imperative that deliberate and conscious effort be made to right the wrong of alleged past marginalisation, “use-and-dump” and sectionalism.

Weeks back, media reports that the leadership of APC had zoned Senate Presidency to the North Central, were comprehensively applauded by every progressive-minded Nigerian from the core North; for very obvious reasons.

However, in the past few days, there has been discordant vibes about the zoning arrangement. Recent media reports reveal that a top-gun from the South West has rail-road the party into moving the Number three position to the Northeast from the North Central.

This development, if true, is not only dangerous to the new-found

ONE EXPECTS THAT LEADERS OF APC, WHO ARE FROM THE NORTH, TO RISE ABOVE PAROCHIAL INTERESTS AND NARROW CLEAVAGES BY ENSURING THAT THE NORTH CENTRAL GETS THE SENATE PRESIDENCY

unity and cohesion in the North, but will be injurious and suicidal to the image of APC and portends serious challenge to the party’s acceptance as a truly national association. Really, if the party is working assiduously in building national consensus and promoting inclusiveness, immediate steps must be taking to jettison zoning the Senate Presidency to the Northeast. The leadership of APC must avoid sending negative signals to Nigerians whence the executive and legislature, two critical arms of government, are superintendent by the core North [Northwest and Northeast]. This will no doubt, reinforce the thinking of some Nigerians that APC is an Arewa party. One expects that leaders of APC, who are from the North, should rise above parochial interests and narrow cleavages by ensuring that the North Central gets the Senate Presidency.

Indeed, if this is done, a new chapter of political relationship between the core North and people of North Central would have been opened. Age-long accusation of marginalisation would be addressed and put to rest. Serial perception of use-and-dump by the core North would be obliterated and consigned to the refuse bin of Northern political history.

Aside these very cogent and moral issues, going by the 2015 general elections, the North Central performed excellently. The zone, not only delivered overwhelming votes to the APC; as a Minority North with the highest convergence of ethnic nationalities, zoning the Senate Presidency out of the zone will be tantamount to deepening alienation of the North Central.

That the APC swept National Assembly, governorship and State Assemby elections in Niger, Benue and Plateau States [hitherto PDP stronghold] in the North Central, whereas APC won in only Adamawa and Bauchi States [in the North East], aptly confirms the need to zone the Number three seat to North Central. Also, the leadership of APC should be reminded that as a result of the unquantifiable passion and unalloyed commitment of the leaders and people of North Central to the CHANGE mantra of their party, massive victories were recorded in Kogi, Kwara and Nasarawa.

Perhaps, APC leaders must be advised on the need to appreciate and compensate the North Central geo-political zone with the Senate Presidency, who in their determined effort to ensure the realisation of the Party’s Change vision and electoral victories, assembled the best and very best in Benue, Niger, Kogi, Kwara, Plateau and Nasarawa states to dislodge the PDP.

As a stakeholder and proponent of true unity, cohesion, mutuality and inclusiveness amongst the entire North, the writer strongly canvass and appeal that the Senate Presidency be domiciled in the North Central geo-political zone. This will have wide-ranging positives not only for the incoming Buhari administration, but also impact on the fortunes of APC in future elections. Tanko wrote from Rabah Road, GRA, Kaduna