There were indications on Tuesday that the race
for the Senate Presidency might had created a rift within the political
leadership in the North with North-East and the Middle Belt
(North-Central) insisting on the position.
Investigations by our correspondents showed that attempts by politicians across the region to reach a common position on the Senate Presidency had not succeeded.
It was gathered that the North-Central was not only insisting on retaining the position, it was also pushing for the emergence of the current holder, Senator David Mark.
It was learnt that the core North, particularly had intensified efforts to ensure a review of the Peoples Democratic Party’s zoning arrangement.
Senators-elect from the North-East had on Saturday after a meeting, called for the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the zone.
At the meeting, it was gathered that the zone decided to press for the zoning of the Senate presidency to the North-East
A senator-elect in the North-East, who pleaded anonymity because he was not mandated to talk to journalists, said the zone had reached out to other parts of the North.
He said, “Zoning of the Senate presidency to the North-East will allay fears of marginalisation of the North.
“Our stand is hinged on the fact that zoning of the Senate presidency will assist in pacifying northerners, who were aggrieved by the outcome of the presidential poll.”
But the Middle Belt Forum said the Senate presidency should not be taken away from the North-Central.
The Coordinator of the MBF, Mr. Manasseh Watyil, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said Mark exemplified extra -ordinary leadership for the zone by holding the position for four years.
“Remember that the seat has always been described as banana peel. It is very slippery and so it has to take a tactful, experienced and diplomatic person to handle and we in the Middle belt region identify strongly with Mark’s sterling leadership qualities,” he added.
A member of the Northern Elders Political Forum, Ambassador Yaya Kwande said the group had always advocated zoning for the purpose of equity and fairness.
He stated, “This is what the Northern Elders Political Forum, which I am a member, advocated before the election that the zoning formula be retained for the purpose of equity and fairness.”
The David Mark Campaign Organisation said the Senate president was better placed to lead the National Assembly having played a critical role in stabilising the polity.
The Director General of the organisation, Abba Moro, in a telephone interview our correspondent on Tuesday, claimed that the support given to President Goodluck Jonathan did not mean that the PDP had abandoned its decision to zone principal offices in the country.
He said that it was the standard practices the world over that if the party of a senate president won a majority of seats in a general election, he would be allowed to continue in office for the purposes of continuity.
He said, “From the beginning some of us canvassed for President Jonathan to continue in office; he started as vice with (the late Umaru) Yar’Adua and stopping him will amount to retiring him, prematurely from politics.
“That we support Jonathan does not mean that PDP has stopped its zoning formula which should be maintained.
“Nigerians will attest to the fact that the man (David Mark) through his political dexterity has stabilised the polity; the doctrine of necessity saved Nigeria from the precipe.”
By Niyi Odebode, Fidelis Soriwei, and Jude Owuamanam Courtesy Of Punch
Investigations by our correspondents showed that attempts by politicians across the region to reach a common position on the Senate Presidency had not succeeded.
It was gathered that the North-Central was not only insisting on retaining the position, it was also pushing for the emergence of the current holder, Senator David Mark.
It was learnt that the core North, particularly had intensified efforts to ensure a review of the Peoples Democratic Party’s zoning arrangement.
Senators-elect from the North-East had on Saturday after a meeting, called for the zoning of the Senate Presidency to the zone.
At the meeting, it was gathered that the zone decided to press for the zoning of the Senate presidency to the North-East
A senator-elect in the North-East, who pleaded anonymity because he was not mandated to talk to journalists, said the zone had reached out to other parts of the North.
He said, “Zoning of the Senate presidency to the North-East will allay fears of marginalisation of the North.
“Our stand is hinged on the fact that zoning of the Senate presidency will assist in pacifying northerners, who were aggrieved by the outcome of the presidential poll.”
But the Middle Belt Forum said the Senate presidency should not be taken away from the North-Central.
The Coordinator of the MBF, Mr. Manasseh Watyil, in an interview with one of our correspondents, said Mark exemplified extra -ordinary leadership for the zone by holding the position for four years.
“Remember that the seat has always been described as banana peel. It is very slippery and so it has to take a tactful, experienced and diplomatic person to handle and we in the Middle belt region identify strongly with Mark’s sterling leadership qualities,” he added.
A member of the Northern Elders Political Forum, Ambassador Yaya Kwande said the group had always advocated zoning for the purpose of equity and fairness.
He stated, “This is what the Northern Elders Political Forum, which I am a member, advocated before the election that the zoning formula be retained for the purpose of equity and fairness.”
The David Mark Campaign Organisation said the Senate president was better placed to lead the National Assembly having played a critical role in stabilising the polity.
The Director General of the organisation, Abba Moro, in a telephone interview our correspondent on Tuesday, claimed that the support given to President Goodluck Jonathan did not mean that the PDP had abandoned its decision to zone principal offices in the country.
He said that it was the standard practices the world over that if the party of a senate president won a majority of seats in a general election, he would be allowed to continue in office for the purposes of continuity.
He said, “From the beginning some of us canvassed for President Jonathan to continue in office; he started as vice with (the late Umaru) Yar’Adua and stopping him will amount to retiring him, prematurely from politics.
“That we support Jonathan does not mean that PDP has stopped its zoning formula which should be maintained.
“Nigerians will attest to the fact that the man (David Mark) through his political dexterity has stabilised the polity; the doctrine of necessity saved Nigeria from the precipe.”
By Niyi Odebode, Fidelis Soriwei, and Jude Owuamanam Courtesy Of Punch
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