Tinubu: Merit over zoning for senate president

Ahmed Tinubu, national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), says the party will not choose the leaders of the 8th national assembly by prioritising zoning over merit and competence of the aspirants.

He also expressed confidence that the incoming federal government of the party will tackle the country’s challenges “aggressively”, even in the face of gloomy prognosis.

Tinubu, who spoke to journalists after meeting with Muhammadu Buhari, president-elect, at the defence house in Abuja on Thursday, said the party would not shy away from dealing with issues just as it did in its campaign.

“The economic situation is a challenge, but we campaigned on issues and we have listened carefully to some detailed research and the economic indices are not what is expected – slow growth, huge indebtedness, huge deficit and so many factors – while the social issues are still there to be addressed. That is a challenge to leadership,” he said.

“The party campaigned on issues and we are going to tackle issues very aggressively. One thing that must be clear is that change has occurred, then the positive change based upon the expectation of Nigeria will follow.

“Whatever the cynicism is now, the government is yet to take over. [It is] preparing to take over and be ready to face the challenges to create that positive change that is the expectation of Nigerians.

“It is clear, nobody has given you an indication of shying away from it. There would be a very serious dialogue, there would be a serious exposition and debate, a robust one for that matter for Nigerian public to be involved in what this government is up for the future of this country.”

On the zoning of leadership positions in national assembly, the APC national leader said: “You have heard from the party, you have heard from the leadership my desire to rock the party. I’m a disciplined party man and we will look at it critically.

“However the nation is expecting us to take a decisive leadership decision and make one meritoriously; merit will not be compromised. You have to be competent; you have to posses the kind of character, attributes to the leadership; you have to be pan-Nigerian and be a very solid character to lead the national assembly and that is what we are talking about.

“It’s not zoning to compromise quality of leadership and competency of an individual. I’m not to speak, not to go further on that. I believe we have a very determined party leadership; we have resolved to follow our leadership and the criteria set by that leadership, including myself. Know that we would not use zoning to determine and compromise the credibility, the qualification of an individual.

“It must be all encompassing and that is the question. If you take zoning as discriminatory in some instances, you might compromise the quality of an individual.”

Tinubu urged Nigerians “to expect the best” from the APC, saying the party would put to shame those who had predicted doom for it.