N’Central candidate
Mohammad Bello and Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja 

The All Progressives Congress (APC) has once again deferred
action on the issue of zoning of principal offices in the incoming
government till after Friday’s inauguration of President-elect
Muhammadu Buhari.
Just like it did shortly after the elections during the heat of the
controversy over zoning of posts, the party yesterday issued a
statement denying that it had zoned the Senate Presidency and the
office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to any zone.
However, the horse-trading for the prized office of the Speakership
of the lower chamber of the National Assembly has continued
unabated with one of the contenders, Hon. Mohammed Tahir
Mongonu, (APC, Bornu) yesterday announcing that he has
withdrawn for Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
In a statement by APC’s National Secretary, Hon. Mai Mala Buni, the
party said its National Working Committee (NWC) never discussed
the issue of zoning when it met on Monday night.
Buni also denied that the NWC had decided to zone the Senate
Presidency to the North-central and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives to the South-west, saying nothing to that effect
ever happened.
He said the party was deeply embarrassed by a report which was
apparently planted in the media to sow the seeds of instability in the
party.
“The NWC never discussed the issue of zoning at its meeting.
Therefore the report of its decision on zoning is a figment of the
imagination of whoever concocted the story,” it said.
He said as far as the party was concerned nothing had changed
since the president-elect said he was ready to work with anyone
from any part of the country who occupies any of the principal
offices of the incoming National Assembly, including those of the
Senate Presidency and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives.
Also while backing the party’s position, the National Vice Chairman
of APC, Mr. Bachir David. Lawal, said the issue of zoning was not
part of its meeting, adding that the leadership of APC has
suspended it for now to allow for further consultations.
“I was at last Monday’s meeting of the NWC and the issue of the
Senate Presidency was not on the agenda. Zoning never came up in
any form or shape during the meeting, which had only one item
agenda - the inauguration. No other issue came up. I therefore rebuff
the news report as totally false and mischievous,” he said.
However, as the APC's explanation put paid to speculations on the
issue of zoning by the party, one of the aspirant to the Speakership
position, Hon. Mongonu has pulled from the contest and declared
his interest in the post of Deputy Speaker.
Addressing journalists at the venue of the retreat organised for
newly elected APC members of the House, Mongonu said he would
now team up with Gbajabiamila to ensure victory for their joint
ticket.
Giving reasons for stepping down for Gbajabiamila, the lawmaker
said convention in most representative democracies the world over
shows that having served as minority leader you ascend to the
speakership position should your party gain the majority.
“After broad consultations and thoughtful consideration, I have
decided not to run for the office of the Speaker in the 8th Assembly.
Instead, I give my full endorsement to my friend and colleague, Hon.
Femi Gbajabiamila, who I believe has the requisite qualification to
lead the 8th Assembly in the onerous task of addressing the
important and pressing needs of the citizens of this nation.
“I will instead be running for the Deputy Speaker position on a joint
ticket with Hon. Gbajabiamila.
“I am withdrawing from the race for two reasons: first, is to ensure
party cohesion. As leaders of our great party we can ill-afford to
have a divided House if we are to deliver on the much-needed
change we promised Nigerians in the course of the campaign; and
second, Femi stands tall amongst our peers in terms of experience
and understanding of the contours and nuances of the legislative
process.
“The reason is simple: managing the complexities and subtleties of
the legislative process is serious business. It cannot be left in the
hands of anyone who desires to learn on the job!
“Over the years, I have come to know Femi as an exceptionally
effective legislator. He leads by building consensus, listening to
good ideas and putting the nation first. His outright rejection of a
national award on principle, tells you all you need to know about his
character.
“As our chamber’s next Speaker, Femi will re-energise our
institution by building the capacity we need to make our role in
government more effective and more accountable to the voters,” he
said.
In a related development, the former Governor of Kwara State,
Senator Abubakar Bukola Saraki has officially emerged a sole
candidate of the North-central geopolitical zone in the race for the
Senate presidency.
APC in the zone, which announced the chairman of Senate
Committee on Environment as its sole candidate, said that the
choice of Saraki followed the withdrawal of another contestant from
the zone, Senator George Akume to run for the post of deputy
senate president.
In a communiqué at the end of a crucial meeting of APC chairmen in
the zone held in Abuja, the zone resolved and unanimously declared
it was only interested in the Office of the Senate President which
allegedly had earlier been zoned to it by the National Working
Committee of the party.
The communiqué dated May 25, 2015 was signed by Hon. Letep M.
Dabang, Chairman of APC in Plateau State; Alhaji Haddy A. Ametuo
Chairman, Kogi State; Hon. Philips Shekwo Chairman, Nasarawa
State; Alhaji Usman Malik Chairman FCT; Mr. Jibrin Imam
Mohammed Chairman, Niger State; and Hon. Ishola Balogun Fulani
Chairman, Kwara State.
The communiqué said sequel to the personal decision of one of the
contenders from the zone that he had withdrawn his aspiration and
interest from contesting for the post of Senate President of the 8th
Senate, they were left with no other obvious option than endorsing
Senator Saraki as the sole candidate from the zone to be presented
to the leadership of the party for the position of Senate President of
the 8th Assembly.
It said the endorsement of Senator Saraki was borne out of his
“unprecedented commitment to the growth and success of the party
at all levels in the zone and across the country, Saraki’s
commitment, sacrifices, sincerity and purposeful leadership that
ensured the success of all the Senators, House of Representatives
members, House of Assembly members as well as gubernatorial
candidates in the affected states within the zone”.
The communiqué read in part; “That we are resolute in our collective
decision to produce a single candidate from the zone to the office of
the Senate presidency and we abide with same considering the fact
that all our distinguished senators from the zone had equally
maintained a similar position in their earlier meetings.”
They vehemently opposed any alliance, horse-trading and fixing of
positions in a way that may sabotage the official position of the APC
North-central zone, as such step runs contrary to the interest and
yearnings of the people, APC members and the zone on a larger
scale.
“As the party leaders in our various states, we hereby unequivocally
say that our people unanimously give their support to Saraki’s
Senate presidency without an iota of doubt in his ability to make the
zone and Nigeria proud in the no distant future, just as he had
delivered in other endeavors he has been involved in the past,” the
APC North-central leaders said
“Also, we solicit the support of all elected Senators and House of
Representatives members from other geopolitical zones to give their
total support to this great son of Nigeria who has distinguished
himself in a similar responsibility in the recent past and they should
be rest assured that he will not disappoint them.
“It is our candid belief that his leadership would not only provide for
an open door Senate presidency and all inclusive administration but
he will also be a good ambassador of our dear country that we shall
be proud of,” they added.
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