Despite his closeness to and support for the president-elect, the Ondo state governor, Rotimi Akeredolu, has rejected the polling formula announced by the All Progressives Congress, APC.
The party had announced on Monday that the South-South and the North-West should fill the posts of Senate Speaker and Speaker of the House of Representatives.
As soon as the announcement was made, other contenders for the seats rejected the zoning formula, including 18 senators-elect from Northcentral, who were not assigned any top seat.
Akeredolu, who has been a staunch supporter of Tinubu and advocated for a southern presidency, expressed his position on Wednesday in a statement issued in Akure, Ondo state.
It said that “aside from the unassuming ambiguity in the alleged press statement issued by the CPA leadership, the content, intentions and motives of the zoning formula represent early signs of moves aimed at trying to win the hard-won presidency.” effort for our leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu by some people with eyes on Aso Rock Power Buttons.’
The statement reads: “It is trite to say that it is logical to think that a geopolitical area, the Northwest in this sense, will be favored with two posts of presidents out of four, while the North Central suffers the consequences of its innocence. and cunning loyalty by having none.
“It is an insidious permutation that the Northeast will be deprived of the unsightly largesse dispensed via two slots to a particular geopolitical zone.
“It is self-repudiation for anyone to argue, therefore, that the Speaker of the House of Representatives cannot also come from the Northeast.
“Thus, the move to zone out National Assembly leadership positions at the behest of self-interested personalities with a perceived closeness to the president-elect speaking out lays a dangerous foundation for mistrust, unnecessary suspicion even as it structures nothing more than a combination of trappings. explosive We must avoid all of that,” he stated.
He suggested that “let us let the North play a stronger, more robust and inclusive role in the rise of the zoned positions in the region, especially the Presidency.
“In addition, it is a great ingratitude that the role of the Forum of Progressive Governors seems minor.
“As Party leaders in their respective states, there could be no greater disservice to them that a consensus had yet to be reached when the NWC hastily launched a dangerous tool for the opposition in the guise of a zoning formula. For me, even on this note, it is unacceptable.
“Doesn’t it also exude serious discomfort that the candidates for the Presidency have not been consulted, approached and effectively committed to the supposed zoning formula? He does, and clearly.
“It is in this sense that I salute the courage of the candidates for the Presidency for their display of solidarity, camaraderie and applaudable love for the Party in their rejection, resentment and objection to the blatantly remote-controlled zoning arrangement that is biased and directed against some areas and identified persons”, added the governor.
He explained that “your action is commendable just as you are urged to make sure you bring this to a logical conclusion.
“This is an unworkable arrangement that reinforces injustice and increases inequality; and I join them in rejecting this zoning formula.”
He called on “the NWC of our great Party to follow the path of purity and Justice. It may be wise for Mr. President-elect to challenge this lopsided arrangement and provide a direction that reflects our collective commitment to equality and justice.
“In this particular case, and in order to avoid a recurrence of adverse situations, it is recommended that the APC NWC immediately convene the National Executive Committee (NEC) after a strong national parliament/stakeholders to agree terms that would strengthen our great Feast,” he implored.
