According to a report by Arise News, Professor Abiodun Adeniyi, a well-known expert in communications and public affairs, has advised the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to exercise caution in its approach towards the Southeast region as the race for the highly coveted position of Senate President intensifies in anticipation of the 10th National Assembly.
In recent weeks, there have been several requests from various regions of the nation for the APC to consider yielding its position as Senate President to the Southeast region. The aim of this request is to balance the power-sharing equation.
Nonetheless, there are dissenting opinions within the ruling party that argue that the Igbos should not hold the third most powerful political position in the nation due to their significant number of anti-Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu votes during the presidential elections.
During the interview on ‘ARISE TV’s Prime Time’ program with Charles Aniagolu a few hours ago, Prof Adeniyi expressed his opinion that the power-sharing formula of the APC should not be based on which area supported their presidential candidate the most or least, in response to the current controversy. According to him, it would be more beneficial for the ruling party to focus on promoting inclusivity and equity in the upcoming administration, rather than attempting to incite the Southeast region for not voting in favor of Tinubu during the recent elections.
Additionally, Adeniyi offered advice to Tinubu, suggesting that he should learn from former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s approach to winning over a region that initially rejected him during elections.
He remarked, “Ignorant issues of marginalization have put the Southeast in the spotlight. And the APC can begin to promote inclusivity by giving the Igbos some advantageous posts. They shouldn’ t be awarded positions based on how many votes they contributed.”
“The ruling party should keep in mind that President Olusegun Obasanjo’s region, the Southwest, did not support him around 1999. But when he entered, he didn’ t treat them like outcasts or get into a fight with the Yorubas because they didn’ t support him. Instead, he granted some prominent Southwest figures relatively favorable positions. The Yorubas were thereafter gradually reintegrated into the national body polity as a result of this.”
“As a result of this action, Obasanjo earned resounding support from the Southwest in 2003. In order to gain the Southeast’ s trust and support, the APC needs do so gradually.”
