Benin Leaders of All Progressives Congress, APC, in the South South, yesterday, called on the national leadership of the party to zone the position of the Speaker of the House of Representatives to the South South in the interest of equity, justice and fairness.
The leaders, under the aegis of South South Equity Forum, in a statement by its National Co-ordinator, Sir Harrison Omagbon and 19 others in Benin, Edo State, endorsed Mr Pally Iriase, the former Secretary to Edo State Government and a ranking member of the House for the position.
Congratulating the president-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, they charged him to ensure that the South South and South East were not marginalized in the zoning of positions “because we still have elections in 2019.”
Citing the constitution which stipulates equity among the geographical zones in the country in the sharing of positions, the group said: “As a matter of necessity, if the Senate presidency goes to either the North East or North Central, the speakership should go to the South South. While the South West has the Vice President, invariably, the Speakership should come from the South South since the South East has no ranking member.
“In the spirit of give and take and in the interest of inclusive governance, and by every standard, considering the economic importance of the South South geo-political zone, as the goose that lays the golden egg has to be factored into the distribution of high political offices.”