APC Youth Leaders demand for Vice Presidency to be zone to North Central.

APC Youth Leaders demand for Vice Presidency to be zone to North Central.

The youth leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the six North Central states: Benue, Niger, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi and Kwara, including the FCT, have called on the leadership of the party to zone the vice presidency to the geo-political zone ahead of next year’s general elections.

Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja, the APC Youth Leader in the FCT, Ibrahim Umar Faruq, said the nomination of an acceptable vice presidential candidate from the North Central would add electoral value to the party’s electoral fortunes at the general elections.

According to him, while the APC youths are canvassing that the vice presidency be zoned to the North Central, they are equally appealing that it should be on the grounds of a Muslim/Christian ticket.

He said, “By and large, we dare say that within the context of the ongoing permutations, and considering the strong support base of the APC in the region, where the party has produced five sitting governors, the North Central stands a favoured geo-political zone for the vice presidential slot, and it read as follows:

CONFERENCE OF STATE APC YOUTH LEADERS OF NORTH-CENTRAL ZONE OF NIGERIA

We, whose names are subscribed here- under are the State APC Youth Leaders of the FTC Abuja and six States comprising the North-Central geo-political Zone of Nigeria. We, first of all, wish to warmly applaud and commend President Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR), the National Leadership of the Party, all APC Governors, all APC members of the National Assembly, all National delegates, other relevant stakeholders and organs for a hitch-free and successful National Convention which has seamlessly produced the Party's Presidential flag-bearer for the 2023 general elections. We take this opportunity to whole-heartedly congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed for the landslide victory as the APC's Presidential candidate at the just-concluded Primaries. We have no doubt that as an experienced, prolific and competent politician and elder statesman, Chief Tinubu is well-grounded in statecraft, to take the country to higher heights if elected as President of our dear country Nigeria.

2. However, we have the mandate and support of our teeming APC Youths to lend our voices to the unfolding political developments in country. This is even as the leadership and relevant stakeholders of the Party are weighing result-oriented options for the nomination of an acceptable and popular candidate that can add value to our Party's electoral fortunes at the 2023 polls. Of course, the trending issue in our current political landscape is the jostling and horse-trading surrounding the search for a Vice-Presidential candidate of our great Party for the 2023 general elections.

3. We have observed that one issue that is in front-burner is the contention and agitation for a Muslim-Christian and Muslim-Muslim ticket. While the latter is only practicable in a matured democracy and a typically enlightened clime, its feasibility in an ethno-religiously volatile contemporary Nigeria is most doubtful. In this context, we join the fray of most Nigerians who are canvassing for Muslim-Christian ticket, while stressing that it would promote national cohesion/stability, strengthen inclusive governance, engender regional balancing, consolidate the gains of the Nigerian Project as well as guarantee fairness, equity and justice which relevant provisions of our Party's Constitution and Manifesto both espouse.

4. By and large, we dare say that that within the context of on-going permutations and considering the strong support base of the APC in the region where the Party has produced five APC sitting Governors, the North-Central zone stands a favoured geopolitical zone for the Vice-Presidential slot of the APC. This is in addition to the increasing electoral fortunes of the Party in the region.

5. Furthermore, gentlemen of the Press, while canvassing that the coveted slot be zoned to the NORTH-CENTRAL, we are equally appealingly that, on the grounds of the Muslim-Christian ticket and other practical considerations, the only Christian APC Governor, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State should be considered as the APC's Vice-Presidential flag-bearer. There are indeed many factors that favour this agitation. One, Governor Lalong has since 1999 played an active role within the realm of National politics. As a consummate politician and astute democrat, it was Lalong who as the then Speaker of the Plateau State House of Assembly remained dogged against an illegal attempt at impeaching the then Governor of his State, an act that was perceived as a 'coup against democracy'. Secondly, the tendency of this stout defender of democracy and ardent stickler for rule of law, fairness, equity and justice had manifested recently during the June 2022 APC National Convention when he collaboratively stood for Zoning of the APC Presidential ticket to the South, a feat that is widely celebrated as a significant sacrifice for national unity and stability. as Governor of his State, Rt. Hon. Lalong is highly celebrated for his Peace-Building architecture as well as inclusive governance an approach which gives every citizen a sense of belonging irrespective of religion and ethnic affiliation. In addition to this, he has played outstanding roles in national politics and governance. Governor Lalong was in the year 2000 elected Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of Nigeria, a forum he successfully led for 7 years. In 2019 Rt. Hon. Lalong, a two-time Governor was unanimously elected Chairman, Northern States Governors Forum, a body he still Chairs, leading same to National prominence and relevance. At the moment, Governor Lalong is the National Chairman of Conference of Former Heads of State Houses of Assembly. These strategic positions, including his competence and humility, have no doubt equipped him with the requisite knowledge of the economy, and inner workings of Government.

6. Nevertheless, members of the 4th Estate of the Realm, we wish to appeal to the National Leadership of our great Party ably Chaired by Senator Abdullahi Adamu as well as our Presidential flag-bearer and other stakeholders to consider our position here as a clarion call anchored on the desire for fairness, equity and justice which are a sine qua non for peace, unity and stability.

Similarly the Plateau State All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth Leader Hon. Nanloh Joshep Dashe stated that Governor Lalong is the best candidate to be nominated as the APC VP looking at his track record.

He said Governor Lalong, who serve as the longest Speaker in the history of the State, also served the conference of former speakers forum as Chairman.

Hon. Nanloh also stated that Governor been the Chairmen Northern Governors Forum and who doubles as the Plateau State Governor has all it take to be considered he said.