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Why the North-West Shouldn’t Expect the Senate Presidency in the 10th Assembly

Published

2 years ago

on

Ali Sabo

By Ali Sabo

The race for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly is already heating up, with major contenders for the third and fourth most powerful positions in the country demonstrating their capacities, qualifications, and flexing their muscles. Underground works and lobbying have also commenced.

Unfortunately, insinuations of vote buying have also surfaced, as has become part of the business in the country’s politics. Meanwhile, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has remained silent on the issue of where the leadership of the 10th National Assembly will go, while stakeholders within and outside the party have been calling on the president-elect and the party leadership to quickly address this by zoning the positions to avoid what happened in the eighth assembly.

Unlike the outgoing president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the president-elect is a real politician and strategic. As such, he knows the importance of having a loyal house in running his government smoothly and executing developmental projects for the citizens. However, his silence regarding the leadership of the house is sending negative messages to well-meaning Nigerians who have been expecting him and the party chairman to call an urgent meeting to address the issue before it plunges the party into an avoidable crisis.

Recently, heavyweight members of the APC have been announcing their interest in leading the 10th National Assembly, especially the red chamber. Among the heavyweight senators-elect who have publicly declared their interest are Senator Uzor Ojikalu, representing Abia North, a former governor of Abia State and one-term senator going for his second term; Senator Barau I. Jibrin, representing Kano North, a former member of the House of Representatives, a two-term senator and going for his third term; and the former governor of Zamfara State, Abdulaziz Yari, who was a former member of the House of Representatives. Although the other two senators have more legislative experience than Yari, and experience being part of the precondition for becoming either Senate President or Speaker of the House of Representatives, in Nigerian politics, anything is possible.

While politics rewards people based on their performance and contributions to their party, equity must be applied in sharing the major political positions in the country in the spirit of fairness, justice, and national interest. Before delving into that, let’s look at the votes each zone gave to the winning political party in the 2023 general election. The North-West, which has the highest number of registered voters in the country, gave the President-elect a total of 2,652,824 votes. The South-West produced 2,542,979, the South-East produced 127,605, while the South-South gifted Mr. Tinubu 799,957. Based on percentages, the North-West gave the President-elect the highest percentage of the votes he garnered, which is 30%, while the South-East contributed only 1%, the South-South contributed 9%, and his home zone, the South-West, contributed 27%.

From a common-sense perspective, one would conclude that since the North-West gave the President-elect the highest number and percentage of votes, coupled with the fact that the zone has never produced a Senate President, it should be given the chance to produce one this time. However, fairness and equity in the distribution of political positions and resource sharing are what keep the pillars of democracy firm and solid. Even though the South-East contributed a meager 1% and the South-South contributed 9% of their votes, these zones should be allowed to produce the next Senate President. Going contrary to this will further escalate the crisis, discomfort, and alleged sidelining of a certain group of people, especially Christians,

Ali Sabo, ANIFR is the Campaign and Communication Officer of the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD). He can be reached via his email address: aliyuncee@gmail.com

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200,000 APC Members in Kano Dismiss Allegations Against Ministerial Nominee Yusuf Abdullah Atta as Baseless

Published

4 weeks ago

on

October 27, 2024

By

 

Over 200,000 members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State have dismissed allegations of incompetence against the ministerial nominee, retired Hon. Yusuf Abdullah Atta, as baseless. Some APC members in Kano believe the allegations stem from personal grudges held by a few individuals who are not legitimate members of the party.

In a statement, Mustapha Gidan Magani, the secretary of APC Kwaciri Ward, on behalf of the entire executive committee of APC Fagge Local Government Area, rejected the allegations of anti-party activities during the 2023 general election. The executives argued that those intending to submit a petition to the Senate, claiming to represent 50,000 APC members, have no legal standing to make such claims.

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The APC executives from Fagge Local Government Area are prepared to counter the petition, asserting that it will have little impact on the confirmation of Atta as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development. They expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for nominating Atta, highlighting his administrative skills and dedication to serving humanity.

 

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Politics

PDP Youth Activist Calls for Suspension of Shekarau, Bello Hayatu from the party

Published

1 month ago

on

October 14, 2024

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Salisu Usman Karaskabuli, a youth activist of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano, has called for the immediate suspension of several high-ranking party members, including former governor Ibrahim Shekarau, Bello Hayatu Gwarzo, and Yahaya Bagobiri.

He accused them of sabotaging the party’s efforts in the state and hindering PDP’s progress in the region.

Addressing journalists in Kano, Salisu Karaskabuli alleged that Shekarau has engaged in anti-party activities during the 2023 governorship election.
“Despite being a PDP leader, the majority of his supporters backed the APC candidate,” Salisu Karaskabuli said.
He further claimed that Shekarau is already mobilizing his supporters to work for Senator Barau’s governorship ambitions in 2027, signaling ongoing disloyalty.

Salisu Karaskabuli also blamed the PDP National Vice Chairman for the Northwest Bello Hayatu Gwarzo for failing to unite the party across the region.
He noted that prominent PDP members, such as former governors Ibrahim Shema of Katsina and Ramalan Yero of Kaduna, had defected to other parties due to Gwarzo’s ineffective leadership.
Concerning the recent PDP congress in Kano, Usman expressed frustration, rejecting the outcomes of the ward, local government, and state congresses.
He accused the leadership of the party for partisan zoning and disqualifying candidates without valid reasons.

Further accusations were leveled at Yahaya Bagobiri, the chairman of PDP elders in Kano.
Salisu Usman claimed that Bagobiri had leaked sensitive party information to the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) leader Rabiu Kwankwaso.

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Usman Karaskabuli called on the national leadership of the PDP to investigate the accused members and, if found guilty, take appropriate disciplinary action.

The accusations come at a time when the PDP in Kano and the wider Northwest is grappling with internal divisions, which some fear could weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general elections.

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APC Youth Activist Urges President Tinubu to Appoint Murtala Sule Garo as Minister

Published

1 month ago

on

October 13, 2024

By

Sadiq Ali Sango

 

Sadiq Ali Sango, a prominent youth activist of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kano State, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider appointing Murtala Sule Garo as a minister in the forthcoming cabinet reshuffle.
Sango made this known in a statement released to journalists in Kano.

The Federal Government recently announced that President Tinubu would soon reshuffle his cabinet, sparking widespread speculation over potential new appointees.
Sango expressed optimism that Garo, a grassroots politician with a proven track record, would be a fitting choice for a ministerial position.

“Murtala Sule Garo is not only a politician but a true son of the soil, with immense contributions to the APC in Kano,” Sango stated.
“His service as the APC’s deputy gubernatorial candidate in the 2023 election and his unwavering commitment to the party despite not having the reins of government in Kano makes him the ideal candidate for Tinubu’s cabinet.”

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Sango further highlighted Garo’s role in holding the party together during difficult times, describing him as the “supporting pillar” of the APC in Kano.
“He has carried the party on his shoulders, providing support to party leaders and members alike,” he added.

With the APC no longer in control of Kano State’s government, Garo’s influence at the grassroots level has been pivotal for the party’s continued strength in the region.
According to Sango, Garo’s appointment would reinforce the party’s position in Kano and contribute to the success of President Tinubu’s administration.

The call for Murtala Sule Garo’s inclusion in the Federal Executive Council comes amid growing anticipation regarding the composition of the new cabinet and the need for strong political figures to represent Kano at the national level.

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