By Jide Orintunsin, Abuja
Ahead of Tuesday’s election of presiding officers of the 10th Assembly, the former Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Hon. Yekini Nabena, has further advanced reasons why the Niger Delta should produce the next Senate President.
Commending the intervention of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima on Sunday evening that led to the withdrawal from the race of two major contenders for the position of Speaker in the 10th Assembly, Nabena stressed the need for religious harmony for the peace and progress of the country.
In a statement on Monday in Abuja, Nabena said: “For the sake of equity, justice and fairness, I will appeal to all the Senators-elect to rally around Akpabio to emerge the next President.
“This has become necessary because the two major contenders in the race for the position of Speaker have withdrawn and declared their support for Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, which means that the road is almost clear for the emergence of another Muslim from the North as number four citizen.
“Therefore, there is a need for religious balancing in government and for the fact that only South-south will be left out of the equation if the position of Senate President eludes the region, hence the more reason Senators-elect should rally support for Senator Godshill Akpabio as the next Senate President.
” As it stands today, the South-west has produced the President, the North-east has the Vice President, the North-west is about to produce the Speaker, (Note that the three of them are Muslims), the North-central has the SGF and the South-east to produce the Deputy Speaker. So, where is the South-south?”
The former APC spokesman also appealed to the North “to forgive Senator Akpabio if he has done anything wrong in the past for the sake of unity and religion harmony by allowing the former Akwa Ibom Governor to emerge the next Senate President.
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