The Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG) has asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to jettison plans to handpick principal officers at the National Assembly and allow the lawmakers to choose their leaders through a democratic process.
CNG said it is unreasonable for APC to suggest that a set of personalities elected by their respective constituencies as Senators and Representatives in the federal legislature can not democratically elect leaders for themselves.
Addressing journalists on Wednesday in Abuja, the Spokesperson of CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman said the use of the President-elect’s name to impose leadership on the National Assembly is part of a wider agenda by internal political enemies to diminish his populist tendencies and set the stage for conflict with other sections of the country that are clearly deprived by the arrangement.
The CNG said it observed “that as a thoroughbred democrat with untainted record of commitment to the sustenance of democratic ideals and principles, the President-elect is not, and will never deliberately be part of this sinister, undemocratic and unconstitutional plot to subvert popular will and hoist a leadership on the second most important organ of government.
“That it is ridiculous, contradictory and shameful for the APC, which stoutly resisted the temptation to limit the contest for the presidential ticket to zoning and opted for democratic primaries should now confine the democratic space for the selection of the Senate leadership.
“That this conspiracy to tamper with the National Assembly leadership selection process that clearly puts the North at disadvantage, is actively perpetrated with the connivance of some individuals from the region, and accommodated by the personal ambition and greed of some of those that present themselves as northern political leaders”.
The group, however resolved “to emphatically call on the leadership of the APC to reclaim its statesmanship by immediately reversing the decision on Akpabio and Abbass, and setting the stage for the emergence of a credible National Assembly leadership through democratic elections by its members as enshrined in our Constitution.
“To call the attention of the incoming President to watch his back and guard against entrenched Judases who are bent on pitching him against democracy, against popular national will and against such regions as the North, that made massive sacrifices to keep the nation united and push it past a critical turning point by working to ensure his victory at the February presidential poll.
“To specifically caution the President-elect against the antics of vested personal interests like those represented by El-Rufai and Ganduje.
“To warn that if this and any similar arrangements are allowed to pass through, the North as a whole would be deliberately shortchanged by stripping it of the three main democratic influences; the executive, the legislature and the Judiciary which would be absolutely unacceptable as it is unjustifiable.
“To encourage all other aspirants for any position in the National Assembly to disregard this purported, undemocratic arrangement and insist on the emergence of their leadership through acceptable, constitutionally recognized democratic election.
“To specifically invite the attention of Abdul-Aziz Yari, who at present assumes the symbol of Northern aspiration to the Senate presidency, that he would lose respect and relevance if he submits to the temptation to quit the race for any undemocratic arrangement other than elections.
“To likewise urge all aspirants to the House of position of the House Representatives Speaker, such as Betara, Wase, Doguwa and the rest from all sections of the country to insist on a transparent and democratic emergence of leaders of the House”.
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