The Senator-elect representing Zamfara West, Abdulaziz Yari, on Tuesday, said that the All Progressives Congress has failed to keep to its tradition of proper consultation before deciding on the zoning arrangements announced.
Yari, a former governor of Zamfara State said this during an interview on Arise TV on Tuesday.
He said it would be unfair to the northern part of the country if leaders of the three arms of government are from the south.
He had earlier announced his interest in the seat of the Senate President in April. However, the APC National Working Committee nominated Godswill Akpabio as the Senate President and Jibrin Barau as Deputy Senate President.
He faulted the zoning arrangement of the ruling party over the legislative arm leadership by not following due consultation and consideration for the federal character.
He said, “Right from the beginning, the party has a tradition of widening the consultation: meeting with the president and all the members of the national assembly; because it is not the party’s business but that of the country,” the senator-elect said.
“But the party did not do any of the above, and what we saw in the media was that they had two meetings, and we were given names to adopt. That is not adequate enough. Because all of them are just advisory bodies, the constitution gives the right to choose national assembly leaders to only the parliamentarians. The party can zone, but it is left for the individual to accept or reject.
“APC has zoned and now we are asking them questions: On what basis? Have you taken into cognizance the federal character? The president, chief justice of the federation, and national assembly chairman –all the three arms of government — are in one place? The chief justice is from Oyo state, Tinubu is from Lagos state, and Akpabio is from Akwa Ibom, all at the same time. And the next chief justice is also going to be from the South-West.”
