According to Arise News, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, a well-known expert in communications and public affairs, has advised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to tread carefully in its approach to the Southeast region as the race for the highly coveted position of Senate President heats up ahead of the 10th National Assembly.
Several petitions from other parts of the country have been made in recent weeks for the APC to consider relinquishing its position as Senate President to the Southeast region. This request seeks to balance the power-sharing relationship.
Nonetheless, there are many within the governing party who believe that the Igbos should not occupy the third most important political position in the country because of their large number of anti-Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu votes during the presidential elections.
In response to the current controversy, Prof Adeniyi stated on ‘ARISE TV’s Prime Time’ program with Charles Aniagolu a few hours ago that the APC’s power-sharing formula should not be based on which area supported their presidential candidate the most or least. According to him, the governing party would be better off focusing on fostering inclusion and equality in the incoming government rather than seeking to provoke the Southeast area to vote against Tinubu in the recent elections.
Furthermore, Adeniyi advised Tinubu to learn from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s method to winning over a region that first rejected him during elections.
“Ignorant issues of marginalization have put the Southeast in the spotlight,” he said. And the APC may start promoting inclusion by offering Igbos some attractive positions. They should not be given jobs solely on the number of votes they cast.”
“The ruling party should remember that in 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo’s region, the Southwest, did not support him.” However, when he arrived, he did not regard them as outsiders or engage in a conflict with the Yorubas since they did not support him. Instead, he gave several important Southwest leaders preferential treatment. As a consequence, the Yorubas were progressively reintegrated into the national body politic.”
“As a result of this action, Obasanjo received widespread support in the Southwest in 2003.” The APC must gradually acquire the confidence and support of the Southeast.”
