NASS leadership: Don’t place zoning above merit, NANS tells APC

The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), yesterday, called on the All Progressive Congress (APC) to allow merit and due process in the emergency of the leadership of the 8th National Assembly.

NANS said it had observed with keen interest and discovered that the party placed emphasis on zoning, adding that it would be counter productive.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, the President of NANS, Tijani Usman said zoning should not be allowed to override national interest.

His words: “the leadership of Nigerian students having observed the moves by the All Progressive Congress, APC, in zoning the leadership of the National Assembly is alarmed that at this critical point in our democracy, zoning is being emphasised above merit.

“While, we acknowledge the imperative of having national spread in the composition of principal officers in the National Assembly, parochial issues like zoning should not be allowed to overshadow national interest.

“The Nigerian people demonstrated this in their voting patter as voting was not based on sectional, religious or tribal sentiments but on perceived merit.

“The overwhelming support the APC enjoyed is traceable to the fact that Nigerian were not satisfied with the pace of development which we all know is as a result of deficit in leadership.

“We therefore appeal to the APC to put national interest above party interest. Nigerians are in a hurry to get good governance; and for this to be achieved, the national assembly must be robust in their engagements.
“That means, the right persons should be allowed to emerge through a seamless process. We cannot afford to gamble with who emerges as leaders in the National Assembly at this point in our journey as a nation.

“The APC must bear in mind that it became the bride of most Nigerians when it conducted the Presidential primaries in a manner that was adjudged free, fair and transparent.

“It will therefore be fool-hardy for the party to deviate from the standard from which it is been assessed. We wish to state that the process that will produce the leadership of the NASS will determine what to expect in the coming days.

“Therefore, it is our submission that APC comes to the realisation that what is at stake is not a party affair but a national affair. Let those who feel they have what it takes to lead the 8th Assembly submit themselves for scrutiny by the colleagues and Nigerians in general.

“It is a known fact that the leadership that have emerged by mere sentiments of zoning have failed us in the past as they have at best served as rubber stamp for the executive.

“The vibrancy currently witnessed in the House of Representatives is a good example of what we get when the process of selecting legislative leadership is seamless.

“Finally, permit me to buttress that, Nigerians are in a hurry to get dividends of democracy, which she has long been deprived of because of deficit in leadership. With the APC promising change, it must be clear that that change can only come when the right persons are in the driving seat.”