Youth leaders of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday rejected the micro-zoning of the position of Senate President in the Ninth Assembly to Ahmed Lawan.
Speaking under the aegis of APC Forum of Zonal/State Youth Leaders in Abuja, they called on the party leadership to ensure that all positions in the Ninth National Assembly are immediately zoned to accommodate the six geopolitical zones of the country.
This was part of the communiqué at the end of the Forum’s meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
Reading the document which was signed by APC Youth Leaders across the six geopolitical zones, Terver Aginde from North Central also called on the party to rescind its decision on the suspension of two APC governors.
“We call for unity and reconciliation at all levels of the party. Therefore we demand the immediate rescission of all purported suspensions in the name of the party.
“Ensure that all positions in National Assembly are immediately zoned to accommodate the six geo-political zones for equity and fairness. No zone is less important than the other. Zonal stakeholders should be allowed to own and determine the process.
“Ensure that the various organs of the party at Zonal and State level are made functional in accordance with the laws governing the party and to reposition the party beyond President Muhammadu Buhari and 2023.
“We appeal to Mr. President to consult the youth organs of the party in his next cabinet appointments especially those that affect the youths,” the communiqué reads.
Although the Adams Oshiomhole-led National Working Committee had adopted Lawan for the position of Senate President in the Ninth Assembly, the forum lamented that this was unilaterally done by the NWC without consultation with other organs of the party.
They also blamed the party’s losses in Imo, Bauchi, Adamawa and Oyo States in the just concluded general election to the inability of the APC NWC to manage the crisis within the party.
“Whilst we agree with the initiative to determine National Assembly leadership within defined parameters of zoning and ranking to ensure stability and discipline within the ranks of the party, we must do so without undermining the independence of the legislature. We consider the micro zoning as a recipe for chaos mindful of the experience of 2015. It is anomalous to have made a pronouncement on the position of the Senate Presidency and Speakership of the House of Representatives to the exclusion of other positions and other zones.
“It is pertinent for members of our great party to note that the purported NWC decision is suspect. Not even the respected and revered National Caucus of the APC comprising of major stakeholders such as President Muhammadu Buhari. APC Governors, party stalwarts and BOT members addressed the issue. We are curious to ask for instance how the decision was arrived at, who moved the motion for micro zoning, who seconded the motion, who voted for micro zoning and who was against micro zoning. We dare ask, who is benefiting from this micro zoning arrangement, an INDIVIDUAL or the PARTY? Party members will be glad to see the minutes of the meeting where such decision was taken,” he said.
OWEDE AGBAJILEKE, Abuja
