By Correspondent in Minna
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a group under the aegies, ‘North Central Network for a Better Nigeria’ ,has called on political parties and political gladiators to consider the zone when chosing their Presidential candidates for, ‘fairness, equity, justice and political inclusiveness’.
Notwithstanding the fact that the zone has produced more Nigerian leaders of northern extraction in the persons of; Generals Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) and Abdulsalami Abubarkar and two Senate Presidents; Senator David Mark and Dr. Bukola Saraki, the group said the zone had been politically marginalised.
Addressing journalists in Minna,the Director-General (DG) North-Central Network for Better Nigeria, Ambassador Jibril Abdullahi Muregi, said the zone contributed more than 50% votes for President Muhammadu Buhari during the 2019 general elections, hence it should be given the exclusive right to produce a successor for the incumbent President.
Part of the 9-point demands by the North-Central group, according to Muregi is that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) be implemented in a just, equitable and transparent manner to cover all deserving states and communities, irrespective of their geographical locations.
North-central states comprising; Niger, Benue, Kwara, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kogi and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja over the years has acted as the bridge linking the north to southern Nigeria and the third most populous geopolitical zone, blessed with both human and material resources.
“Despite this strength, the zone has been sidelined politically and relegated to the position of playing the third backward roles in the political affairs and configuration of Nigeria”, Muregi said.
The DG described as unfortunate,” that the highest political office the zone currently occupies now is that of the office of the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives.”
Determined to correct the perceived imbalance and change the narratives of ensuring that the zone is reintegrated into Nigeria’s mainstream politically, Muregi said the Network had put in place strategic action plan involving; planning, advocacy, lobbying, strategic alliances and as well uniting political gladiators ahead of next dispensation.
Muregi said situation whereby despite its political numeric strength and natural endowments yet relegated to the background remained unacceptable.
“As a first step, the Network is strongly appealing to major political parties in Nigeria to zone their Presidential tickets to the North-central as they conduct their congresses,”he further urged.
While condemning, in strong terms, spate of killings, kidnapping, including the most recent, Nigeria Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna and commiserating with families of all those that lost their loved ones, Muregi said the trend would die a natural death.
According to such death would only be possible with justice, equity and fairness in all government businesses.
“It is important for older Nigerian politicians to also begin to give way for youthful leadership in 2023. “Our agitation would make Nigeria united.
“It is also linked to the quest for generational change, this is the time to put into practice the Not-too-young to rule act”.
On the worsening security situation in the zone, Kwara state representative of the Network, Kazeem Adekaiye, said there was urgent need to upscale the security architecture of Nigeria by imploring technology in the fight against insecurity.
Adekaiye, who said he believed that involving youthful Nigerians in governance would drastically bring about an end to security challenges, expressed optimism that deploying drones and other technological innovations would go a long way in reducing the frightening dimension insecurity has taken in the country.
He said,“If people are aware that with technology they will be exposed, they will be traced, arrested and prosecuted by law to at least serve as deterrent to others, they will not indulge in crime and criminality, especially taking human lives.”
