By EricJames Ochigbo
The North Central Development Initiative has urged the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the office of the National Chairman to the North-Central region of the country.
The National Coordinator of the group, Mr Musa Otigba made the call at a news conference on Tuesday in Abuja.
He said that the appeal became very imperative as the party prepares for another national convention that will usher-in new national working committee that will pilot the affairs of the party and lead the party to the 2027 general elections.
Otigba maintained that the North-Central zone is purely an APC zone, “judging from the outcome of the 2023 general elections”
According to him, all the governors in the zone except one state, were elected on the platform of the APC.
In addition, he said that the zone also produced a substantial number of members of both chambers of the national assembly.
He explained that the efforts that gave victory to the party in the 2023 general elections, from the leadership of the party, to the presidential campaign council (PCC), and the Independent Campaign Council (ICC), were spearheaded by men from the region.
The coordinator said that the region also produced the third highest number of votes after North West and South West regions.
“We have paid our dues for the party. It is therefore, natural and legitimate, that Mr. President and the leaders of the party, give to the north central people, what belongs to them, by returning the national chairmanship position of the party to the region.
“We want to appeal once again to Mr. President and all the leaders and stakeholders of our party, the APC, to maintain the zoning formula of 2022, by returning the position of national chairman of the party, to the north central zone.
“This is to balance the current political equation and to enable Mr. President and the APC, to enjoy the full support of north central people in future elections,” he said.
He commended President Bola Tinubu for establishing the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
Otigba urged the President to ensure that appointment of board members and managers of the commission should be strictly on merit to achieve the desired developmental goals.
He advocated the establishment of a joint security network for the region, to help tackle the current insecurity in the zone.
According to him, the security network is to enable the new development commission to carry out its developmental projects and programmes effectively.
“We want to use this opportunity to appeal to the governors of north central region, including the state Houses of Assembly, to urgently consider and commence the process of establishing a joint security network for the region, like the “Amotekun” in South West, Ebubeagu” in South East, and other such outfits in the different regions of Nigeria.
“The north central region needs such a body now more than ever before to help tackle the rising insecurity in the region and to give room for the expected development by the new commission,” he said.
