10th NASS leadership: Shortchanging the Northwest

Attention is focussed on on four geopolitical zones of Northwest, North Central, South East and South South. The All Progressives Congress, APC with majority of the senators- elect  and members- elect is expected to produce the leadership of the two chambers.

Although the leadership of the two chambers is composed of many other positions, attention is focussed on the presidency of the senate and speaker of the House of Representatives.

The APC has not announced its zoning arrangement regarding the two offices, and indeed other principal offices and other appointments, there seems to be clandestine moves to edge out the Northwest from taking one the two principal positions in the National Assembly.

Two reasons are being advanced to shut the Northwest There are those postulating that since the president elect and vice president are muslims, the senate president must be a non muslim. This postulation suggest that no senator from the geopolitical zone would become the senate president, especially that no non muslim senator qualifies to be the president of the senate from the zone.

This postulation affects those senators from other zones who are muslims

The other postulation is geography that senate presidency mives to the south and mire specifically the South East, as an appeasement to Igbos, whose contribution to the APC was two senators, one of which is a first timer.

The scenerio shows that despite giving yhe APC about 30 per cent of the total votes that catapulted to victory, it will shortchanged on the alter of religion.

Unless the political critical stakeholders put their heads together, the situation may cause the APC and indeed the political terrain some shocks.

The Northwest must take one of the two offices in addition to whatever may accrue throw other appointments.

The Northwest has shown resilience and vibrancy to determine the tide politics in Nigeria and it amounts to rubbishing itself to forego what is due to it.

Its not enough for the northern politicians to protect the mandates Nigerians have given to their preferred choice, but should stand firmly in ensuring equity is respected.Itherwise, what is the point in standing solidly behind s political party? To labour for a party to come to power, and you don’t benefit from your labour? It does not sound and look logical.

Giving positions to zones that worked against the party amounts  to breach of trust. The politicians from the zone who are jostling and selling the candidature of those outside the zone are political merchants whose interest is to make money, and more money from their principals.

The Northwest has the most qualified legislators to man the National Assembly. It should therefore organise itself and save itself from the looming tragedy waiting to happen.