‘They feel marginalised’ — Group asks APC to zone speaker position to south-east

A group known as Civil Society for Good Governance has asked the All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the speakership position of the 10th house of representatives to the south-east.

The group also asked the ruling party to consider nominating Ben Kalu, spokesperson of the house of representatives, for the number four position in the country.

Speaking at a press conference on Friday, Dominic Ogakwu, convener of the group, said the south-east has not produced a speaker for nearly 40 years.

“At present, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is on the cusp of history to demonstrate that equity, inclusivity and justice are the principles on which the party is built as it reaches a decision on the zoning of key officers for the 10th national assembly, especially for the house of representatives,” Ogakwu said.

“As members of civil society, we hold the view without equivocation that equity and fairness demand that the south-east should produce the next speaker of the house of representatives.”

Ogakwu said nominating someone from the south-east region for the position of the speaker will “balance the power-sharing formula” in the country.

“There is a sense of alienation and marginalisation amongst the people of the zone by the APC which though we do not share, but agree as a legitimate concern,” he said.

“As a country that just emerged from an electoral process that is benighted by divisive tendencies, history beckons on the ruling party to demonstrate that it is inclusive, equitable and responsive to all parts of the country, particularly the south-east.

“As a multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious country, it is urgent and imperative that the APC promotes the tenets of federal character by zoning the speakership to the south-east and strengthening the cords of unity and peaceful co-existence amongst our peoples.

“Records indicate that since the return of democratic rule in 1999, the south-east geopolitical zone is the only zone yet to have the opportunity to produce a speaker of the house of representatives.

“As we stated earlier, our clamour for the speakership from the south-east is not premised on equity and inclusion alone, but because there is the capacity, ability and widespread consensus that Benjamin Kalu is suited for the job.”