Stakeholders from the North Central geo-political zone under the aegis of the North Central People’s Forum has told President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that they are not satisfied with the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Recall that, Tinubu had last week appointed Senator George Akume as the SGF apparently as a move to placate the North-central zone and influence the tussle for the leadership of the incoming 10th National Assembly.
The North Central zone have insisted that the position of SGF cannot be a substitute for the top four presiding officers’ positions in the National Assembly.
According to NCPF, with the quantum of votes given to Tinubu in the February 25th Presidential election, the zone should be given the office of the deputy Senate President and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Vanguard reported that in a statement on Monday by the National Publicity Secretary of the forum, Hon Audu Sule, NCPF said that the people of the North Central, including Abuja, Plateau, Benue, Kogi, Niger, Nasarawa and Kwara States, know very well that one of them should be appointed the FCT minister.
Recall that the All Progressives Congress, APC had announced the endorsement of Senator Godswill Akpabio and three others for the topmost positions in the National Assembly.
Senator Akpabio from South-South was endorsed for Senate President, Senator Jubrin Barau from the North-west for Deputy Senate President, Honourable Tajudeen Abass, North-west for Speaker, House of Representatives and Hon. Kanu, South-East for Deputy Speaker.
According to the group, the Chairman of the Senate Services Committee, Senator Sani Musa, APC, Niger East is in the race to be deputy Senate President and has the backing of Senators-elect from the region. While the current Deputy Speaker, Idris Wase, is in the race for Speaker and has remained steadfast in his determination to run for the number four seat.
NCPF said that the appointment of Akume as SGF may have been done to pave the way for Hon. Abbas from the North West to become Speaker.
Audu Sule said, “First of all we thank Mr President for appointing one of our sons, father and brother as the SGF. We want to particularly congratulate Sen George Akume for the appointment because he is eminently qualified.
“But that is not enough to pacify us. If you look at the vote the APC pulled in North Central it was massive. We were able to lead in all the states except for Plateau and FCT which went to the Labour Party.
“We want the office of the deputy Senate president to go to the North Central. That is the office we have not occupied. In the past, military governments appointed ministers of FCT from the North Central. That’s what we want from the present administration.
“Also, if you check in the previous government, the North East had a Senate President and the SGF. So, we want the office of the deputy Senate president. It will be good for the north central to get it because out of the seven states, we give five to the APC.
“We are also calling for the North Central state to be considered for the office of the FCT minister because the people understand the area very well. Also, the FCT should be given a ministerial appointment.”
