Senate Presidency: Group drums support for Akpabio

The South-South Youth and Stakeholders Forum, has called on the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), the President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and all elected Senators to as a matter of fairness, zone the Senate presidency to the South-South region.

They also urged that former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Senator Godswill Akpabio be adopted for the post of the Senate President.

Speaking on behalf of the group at a world press conference in Abuja, on Monday, President-General, Ogoni Youth Federation & Chairman, South/South Youth & Stakeholders Forum, Chief Legborsi Yamaabana said the legislature is a quality institution that require the leadership of individuals with expertise and pedigree.

With the Muslim/Muslim ticket for the presidency already generating controversy, the group recommended that in the interest of social justice, a christian specifically from the south-south geopolitical zone be allowed to occupy the office of the Senate President.

They said the former Akwa Ibom state governor, who is also the senator elect North-West District is most qualified and suitable to head the senate considering his achievements in his state and in other positions he held in the past.

He said, “Law-making is a serious business with far-reaching consequences on the people. This is the reason we are calling on the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC), the President-Elect, all elected senators, and stakeholders to cede the Senate President position to South/South.

“We are also calling on our dear President-Elect, H.E, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and stakeholders, to look in the direction of H. E, Senator Godswill Akpabio for the office of Senate President, as the leadership of the 10th NASS emerges soon.

“For the sake of inclusion and national integration in mainstream governance, and in line with the spirit and principle of Federal Character, we are appealing to stakeholders to support the South/South, whose last and only shot at the Senate Presidency was in 1979, when Joseph Wayas was elected under President Shehu Shagari.

“We want to assure the President-Elect, that an Akpabio’s Senate Presidency will ensure a healthy and friction-free mutually beneficial relationship between NASS & the Federal Government. That our collectively endorsed candidate, Sen Akpabio is experienced, equipped and a ranking Senator with deep understanding of legislative procedures & processes, clearly shows him as the square personality, for this square responsibility”.

They charged other geopolitical zones to cooperate with the south/south region and support Akpabio for the president of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the 10th National Assembly.

The South-South youth group also requested that the incoming administration take seriously the issue of the Ogoni cleanup exercise with a view of consolidating on the gains already recorded under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration vis the Ogoni water and power projects, the specialist hospital and the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration.

The said “In the coming months, we shall present our Charter of Demands to the President elect, the charter of Demands shall include: action on the dilapidated state of the East West Road, Railway line, modular refinery for each state of the South/South amongst others. Also worthy of note, are the environmental challenges confronting the people of Niger Delta region. From pollution emanating from unsafe and unprofessional practices by Oil Multi-nationals, operating in the region, to re-pollution of same environment, as a result of the activities of illegal oil refiners & vandals.

“We want to commend President Muhammadu Buhari, for taking steps beyond rhetoric, to ensure that the Ogoni Clean-Up is been implemented. And in view of the fact that it is not a problem affecting Ogonis alone, but the entire oil producing communities of Niger Delta, we pray the in-coming administration of our dear President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to re-appoint the Hon Minister Of Environment, Barr Mohammed H. Abdullahi, who have raised the bar of performance, superintending over the Ogoni Clean-Up Project.

“We are certain, that the successful implementation of this project, will re-engineer the people’s confidence in the Federal Government’s ability & resolve, to clean up impacted communities of the Niger Delta. Even as we strongly believe that, granting license for operation of Modular refining in the South/South will end the hydra- headed problem of oil theft, re-pollution, as well as the burden of subsidy payment by the Federal Government”.

The statement was signed by President-General, Ogoni Youth Federation & Chairman, South/South Youth & Stakeholders’ Forum,Chief Legborsi Yamaabana, Rivers State Representative,
South/South Youth & Stakeholders’ Forum Commander Bob Angel (Gift Monday), Edo State Representative, South/South Youth & Stakeholders’ Forum, Amb. Valentine Anya, Bayelsa State Representative, South/South Youth & Stakeholders’ Forum, Comrade George Sunday and Delta State Representative, South/South Youth & Stakeholders’ Forum, Morgan G. Ogbeneruemu.