By: Eben Enasco Kingsley (BENIN)
Members of the South – South Equity Forum, Edo State Chapter, hasUnanimously called on the president – elect and the National Leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, to Zone the office of the Speakership of National Assembly,(NASS).
The call was issued in a press statement at the Nigeria Union of Journalist, NUJ, in Benin City.
In a speech delivered to newsmen by the group, ably led by the coordination, Hon. Harrison Omagbon congratulated president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria General Mohammadu Buhari on his victory at the March 28, 2015 presidential elections while urging him to consider South-South in the scheme of things on zoning political offices particularly the speaker NASS.
According to him, “we congratulate the president-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Mohammadu Buhari on his victory at the March 28 Presidential election. The victory no double, is an implicit vote of confidence on the president – elect by Nigerians considering his antecedent and zero tolerance for corruption. Hon. Omagbon further stressed that, since the party, All Progressives Congress, APC, emerged from the epic electoral victory, each zones of the federation has been jostling for choice position at the centre giving that it is allowed and expected in line with the constitution which gives ultimate primacy to equity, fairness and justices.
He said, “Be that as it may, Section (14) Subsection (3), of the 1999 Constitution as amended, ably amplified equity as the bases for mutual coexistence.
The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies and the conduct of it affairs shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the Federal Character of Nigeria and the need to promote national unity, and also to command national loyalty, thereby ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few state or from a few ethnic or other sectional groups in that Government or in any of its agencies.
He pointed out, some of the issues that nailed the ruling party Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, during the 2015 General election while urging his party to painstakingly sustain the victory and the confidence repose on them by electorate.
“The APC as a party can ill-afford the crisis that will arise from the management of her victory which was the same reason the PDP roundly lost the election across the country”, he reiterated.
However, the groups unanimously call the party leadership to consider Hon. Pally Iraise the right choice to lead the lines of the NASS.
“It is in this context we are calling on the leadership of our great party to consider the person of Hon. Pally Iraise, a Chattered Accountant, a former ALGON Chairman of Edo State, a former Deputy
Speaker, EDSHA, a former Sec. EDSG and two times member of the lower house of NASS for the speakership.
Meanwhile, the Chief host of the event and the chairman Nigeria Union of Journalist, Edo State, Comrade Desmond Agbama, commended the effort of the forum and assured of it support while asserting that it is imperative to have a representative in the lager interest of the people of the South-South political zone.
In his words, “I want to commend your efforts and say that, as members of the 4th estate of the realm, we are not only going to disseminate but also support you through this process; because you use what you have to get what you want. I want to urge you political class to
network until victory is recorded. It will do us proud to see that our representative from Edo is the speaker of the NASS.
In the meantime, the event was attended by notable politicians cut across the zone that includes Hon. Sir, Harrison Omagbon, the zonal coordinator, Hon. Barr. Victor Ohiosuma, Secretary, Engineer George Anigboro, Delta State Coordinator, Hon. Tony Dorgu Bayelsa State Coordinator, Utechay Ontia, Rivers State, Sam Ntem, Cross Rivers State Coordinator, Hon. Gabriel Oiboh Edo State Coordinator. Others are Hon. Barr. Abdul Oroh, Rt. Hon. (Barr) Folly Ogedengbe, Hon. Joe Ekpenkho, Rt. Hon. Thomas Okosun, Rev. Michael Egharevba (Ten- galloon), Hon. Barr. Jimoh Isegbai, and many others.
