An agenda-setting college of former and serving National Assembly members have called on the All Progressives Congress(APC), to zone Senate Presidency to the South-South.
The group under the auspices of the Leadership Council of the INITIATIVES said the party should consider the region for the number three seat for the sake of equity.
Former House of Representatives member, Eyiboh Eseme, who spoke on behalf of the group in a news conference in Abuja on Thursday, said doing so would give the region a sense of belonging.
He said the region had not produced a President of the Senate since the return of democracy in 1999.
Eseme also said given the fact that the President-elect is from the South-West and the Vice President-elect is from the North-East, it was fair to zone number three seat to the South-South.
“Within social context, everyone is allowed to participate in electoral processes but we must bear in mind other factors peculiar to our clime.
“Zoning, for instance, is not constitutional but it is often used in an attempt to resolve perceived injustice and it has yielded results so far,” he said.
The former lawmaker further said, “So, in the case of Senate Presidency, we appeal that it is zoned to the South and micro-zoned to the South-South.
“Some people might ask why not South-East.
“South-East as we all know has produced about six Presidents of the Senate since 1999 and South-South has not produced any.”
He said, besides the issue of equity, the APC in the South-South performed creditably in the just concluded Presidential and National Assembly elections.
According to him, in view of that also, it will only be fair to consider the region for the number position.
Eseme said the region had a qualified senator in the person of Sen. Godswill Akpabio for that position.
He said Akpabio was the best for the position not only because he is a ranking senator but also because of his wealth of knowledge.
“We want someone with capacity, competence, and integrity.
“We are all privy to Akpabio’s outstanding performance as a commissioner and governor of Akwa Ibom and the legacies are there for anyone in doubt to verify.
“His achievements spoke for him when he was nominated Senate Minority Whip in the 8th Senate as a first-time senator, a position usually reserved for ranking senators.
“We can go on and on; so what we are saying is that the cap fits Akpabio.”
