All Progressives Congress’ (APC) Integrity Group has called on President Bola Tinubu not to allow the appointment of Sen. George Akume as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) to short-change the North Central in the leadership positions of the 10th National Assembly.
This was contained in a statement jointly issued in Abuja on Sunday by the group’s Coordinator, Malam Mohammed Dawu and Secretary, Comrade Chinsom Nwakanma.
The group, however, thanked the President for the appointment of the former governor of Benue State as SGF and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as Chief of Staff (CoS).
“We consider these appointments critical to the life of this administration but quick to state that it should not affect the chances of the North Central to producing a Presiding Officer in the 10th Assembly.
“As a support group of our great party, we believe that the coming on board of the President and his Vice would rejuvenate our party for a better democratic decisions.
“It is also our sincere opinion that the tenets of good governance is routed much on good democratic cultures,” the group said.
It stated that before the present administration, it was believed that the past care little about the existence of the APC and the decisions taken by its National leadership.
“This led to much crisis in the party especially the removal of elected National Working Committee and bringing in an unconstitutional Caretaker Committee to administer the party for two years.
“Had it not been for the commitment of the APC members, our party would have been a history.
“As a group, we are noticing now another serious crisis brewing up in the party. The present crisis which is as a result of constituting the 10th National Assembly leadership.
“Your Excellency sir, as the leader of our party, we consider it pertinent that you bring your wealth of experience in politics and distribution of party offices in the present situation at the National Assembly.”
According to the group, this request is necessary as your name has been mentioned severally in several quarters on the adoption of consensus candidates of the presiding officers of the 10th Assembly.
“We state that the presiding offices of the 10th National Assembly which is made up of the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker House of Representatives should be distributed to different geo-political zones.
“As the fulcrum of our party, we the integrity group believe that the fabrics of the party are weakened and should not be weakened the more.
“We believe that a concession of a presiding office to the North Central in the 10th Assembly would bond and strengthen our party.
“Mr. President sir, you need a viable National Assembly to deliver on your promises to Nigeria, and that National Assembly must be the one routed in equity, transparency, fairness and inclusivity,” it said.
