By; PATRICK TITUS, Uyo
As the contest for seat of the Senate President hots up ahead of the inauguration of the 10th National Assembly in June this year, more interest groups have intensified support for Senator Godswill Akpabio to be given the position.
The latest is the Coalition of South South Community for United Nigeria, Justice and Equity who said that Sen. Godswill Akpabio is highly qualified to be made the Senate President.
The coalition also appealed to the All Progressives Congress (APC), President Elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu and the senators elect to zone the Senate President to the South South for equity, justice and fairness.
Speaking at a press conference in Uyo on Monday, the Chairman of the coalition, Mr Eseme Eyiboh, said that Akpabio has the capacity and pedigree to occupy the office the senate president.
He called on the APC, President- Elect, Vice President – Elect and Senators – Elect to ensure that the senate President emerge from the South South.
“Since 1999, we have had a model that where the President goes is where the Senate President and Speaker goes. The South South that produces the oil has not been part of the priority list of the government.
“We are united by this demand, appeal and request to the APC, President – Elect, Sen. Bola Tinubu, the Vice President- Elect and Senators – Elect that the position of Senate President should be zoned to the South South.
“It is a request to the APC, the President elect, Asiwaju Tinubu and all the well meaning Nigerians that the office of the senate presidency should be zoned to the south south.
“The reasons are very clear, since 1999, the position of the Senate President has always been occupied by one region.
“So, if we follow the model of what has been going on in this country each time senate presidency comes to southern Nigeria it is usually micro zoned to the South East.
“South East has had uninterrupted Senate President for five times. His Excellency Adolphos Wagbara from Abia State, Evans Enwerem from Imo State, Chuba Okadigbo from Anambra State, and Pius Anyim from Ebonyi State, Ken Nnamani from Enugu state.
“The position has been distributed to five South Eastern state, so, now the Senate President coming to the South cannot go to the South West because the president of the federal republic of Nigeria is from the south west, the natural place, if we mean zoning it should go to is the south south.
“What an average Nigeria is looking for now is strong institutions not strong individual, sustainable development goals and we need somebody who has the pedigree and capacity to actualize that for a united Nigeria, that person is here in the south south.
“We are presenting, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, for this position, without a doubt we seek the support of all,” Eyiboh appealed.
Eyiboh said that Akpabio, who is the former governor of Akwa Ibom, former senate minority leader and one time Minister, Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has the ability to galvanise the executive and the legislature for the betterment of the country.
Our correspondent reports that members of the coalition at the press conference were; Mr Gabriel Edi – Cross River, Mr Kassim Afegbua – Edo, Mr Kamote Egbirin – Bayelsa, Mr Tamuno Green – Rivers, Mrs Rosemary Ohsio-Ogbeniyi – Delta, Dr Martins Udoinyang, Dr Emaeyak Ukpong and Mr Ubokutom Nyah.
