TheCable

Yekini Nabena, a former deputy spokesperson of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has begged northern senators-elect to vote for a candidate from the south-south as senate president.

Akpabio, a former minister of Niger Delta affairs who is from the south-south, was nominated by the ruling party for the position.

However, the likes of Abdulaziz Yari, a former governor of Zamfara, and Orji Uzor Kalu, a former governor of Abia, have insisted on running despite their party’s stance.

In a statement on Monday, Nabena said it would be unfair for the north to have vice-president, speaker, the secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and the senate president.

“For the sake of equity, justice and fairness, I will appeal to all the senators-elect to rally round Akpabio to emerge the next president,” he said.

“This has become necessary because the two major contenders in the race for the position of speaker have withdrawn and declared their support for Hon. Tajudeen Abbas, which means that the road is almost clear for the emergence of another Muslim from the north as number four citizen.

“Therefore, there is need for religious balancing in government and for the fact that only south-south will be left out of the equation if the position of senate president eludes the region, hence the more reason senators-elect should rally support for Senator Godswill Akpabio as the next senate president.

“As it stands today, the south-west has produced the president, the north-east has the vice-president, the north-west is about to produce the speaker, (note that the three of them are Muslims), the north-central has the SGF and the south-east has produced the deputy speaker.

“So, where is the south-south?”

The former APC spokesperson said the north should forgive Akpabio if he has done anything wrong.

“Forgive Senator Akpabio if he has done anything wrong in the past for the sake of national unity and religious harmony,” he added.