APC considering religion balancing in zoning –Lawmaker

Ahead of the inauguration of the 10th Senate in June,  Senator Sani Musa (Niger East), on Tuesday, said that the National Executive Council of the All Progressives Congress will address the issue of religion balancing in the zoning formula to be used for the election of presiding officers.

Musa, who made the declaration on Tuesday while fielding questions from journalists covering the Senate, said the Muslim-Muslim ticket used by the party to win the presidential election, must be balanced at the configuration of the leadership of the 10th National Assembly for the unity of the country.

He said, ‘”This is a real ambush. Why don’t you wait till when I will make my declaration, since you decide to ask me, I will say, no office deserved to be zoned to the North Central than the Office of the Senate President, but as a party loyalist, and having an interaction with the party leadership before the governorship and state Houses of Assembly elections at the Presidential Villa, the National Chairman of APC, Senator Abdullahi Adamu requested that we all keep our intentions until when the party decide to release the zoning formula.

“Be that as it may, and as we can all see that the Muslim-Muslim ticket, which I’m sure will be addressed, we will queue in and decide to make our declaration.”

Musa added, “I would not want to pre-empt the party, I will wait for the decision of the party.  Whatever is the interest of the North Central as one of the geopolitical zones that gave the President-elect Asiwaju Bola  Tinubu, the highest votes. If you look at the difference we gave to APC and the votes we gave to PDP,  we have the largest.

“I do know there will be nothing less than the Deputy Senate President because that is what will be fair to us.”

The Niger senator, however, said his ambition is to run for Senate Presidency and use  the office to collaborate  with the executive  in turning things around for good in the country

He started, “Every human being  has  ambition.  I  intend to come in order to save our Constitution and democracy in this country. You are all witnesses to what is going on in this country.  Imbalances in this country.

“Our forefathers since independence did it in such a way that the future generations will come together and live as one.  So there is no need for me not to vie for this position and when I come in I’m going to strengthen the administration.

“There is a high rate of inflation with two digits,  unemployment, insecurity is there, the value of naira has gone so down.  You can imagine what is happening with our naira.”

Musa lamented that these shouldn’t happen in a country like  Nigeria.

He said, “We are supposed to be the most advanced economy in Nigeria, but alas! , we are where we are today for reasons best known to us all.

“The institution that will serve as an antidote to strong policies that will unite this country for prosperity is the National Assembly and it needs presiding servants, those that will feel the feelings of Nigerians from the streets.

“But as earlier said  if for the sake of religion balancing and unity of the country  Senate Presidency is not zoned to North Central, Deputy President of the Senate should be given.”