Zone SGF position to S’South, groups urge Buhari

 Chukwudi Akasike

The South-South Progressives Consultative Forum and the Rivers Union have called on the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, and the leadership of the All Progressives Congress to zone the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation to the South-South geopolitical zone.

The groups made this call after a joint meeting in Port Harcourt on Monday, even as they cautioned that the region should not be treated like a conquered zone after losing the presidency to another geopolitical zone.

A communique signed by the Chairman and Convener of the SSPCF, Sunnie Chukumele, the representative of the Rivers Union, Deacon Manson Robinson, and seven others indicated that the South-South zone had sustained the economy of the country for over 50 years and should be compensated to assuage the cost of the loss of the presidential position.

The groups specifically recommended that the position of SGF should be occupied by the outgoing Rivers State Governor, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi, especially based on his (Amaechi) wealth of experience as a courageous and versatile politician.

“In recognition of the constitutional protection of the rights of the federating units or zones in equity concerning federal character, there has become an urgent need to present the interest of the South-South in respect of the allocation of key political offices for equity and fairness.

“That we in the South-South demand the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation. As we have demanded that the position of the SGF be zoned to the South-South region, we equally present our worthy and illustrious son, His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Rotimi Amaechi (CON) for the SGF position in the incoming administration of Muhammadu Buhari.

“That we unequivocally state that having lost the presidency to another zone and our worthy and illustrious son, President Goodluck Jonathan GCFR, having magnanimously conceded defeat, the South-South zone should not be treated as conquered zone,” the communique read.

They, however, urged the President-elect to strengthen and maintain existing institutions and programmes designed to give hope to the South-South and the Niger Delta people like the Niger Delta Development Commission, the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Amnesty Programme.

Congratulating Buhari over his emergence as the President-elect, the groups stated that despite the results announced in some key South-South states by the Independent National Electoral Commission, such results were not near the true reflection of what actually took place