Group attacks APC over zoning of NASS leadership, says it’s corruption

A group, the coalition of South-East Youths has attacked the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, over its decision to zone the office of the Senate President and that of Speaker to the North East and South West zones respectively.

According to the group, the decision is an act of corruption, which the party says it is fighting.

A statement jointly singed by its President, Goodluck Ibem, and Secretary, Dr Igwe Kanice, insisted that since Nigeria was established on a tripod, and political positions were meant to be shared equally among the trio, the position of the Senate President should have been zoned to the South-East in the interest of equity and justice, since the North-West and South-West had taken the positions of president and vice president respectively.

The statement reads in part: “We condemn in strong terms, the endorsement of Senator Ahmed Lawan representing Yobe North Senatorial zone in the North-East geo-political zone as APC candidate for Senate President of the ninth Senate and the endorsement of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila from Lagos State by the APC leadership.

“This endorsement by the APC leadership is totally against the principle of Federal Character and it is an act of corruption which the APC claims to be fighting.

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“Corruption is not only when money is misappropriated by those in political office.

“Corruption is the process by which a word or expression is changed from its original state to one regarded as erroneous or debased.

“Corruption is also the process of nepotism, cronyism, patronage, parochialism and favouritism.

“The plan to favour the South-West and the North-East geo-political zones is an act of corruption of the highest order.”

The group however called on the leadership of the ruling party to intensify the fight against corruption during President Muhammadu Buhari’s second term in office.

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