APC Committee to Review Zoning Structure, Says Okoroacha-Onyebuchi Ezigbo in Abuja

Governor Rochas Okoroacha

S’East leaders lobby for SGF

The move by the All Progressives Congress (APC) to empanel  a committee on zoning is coming just as leaders of the South-east zone of the party on Thursday made a special appeal to the president-elect, Muhammadu Buhari, to consider the region for the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF).

The delegation which was led by former National Chairman of the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu and Governor Rochas Okoroacha of Imo State pleaded with Buhari to also consider ceding sensitive ministerial positions to the South-east in his cabinet.

The group made the appeal during a congratulatory visit to the president-elect at the Defence House  in Abuja.

Speaking on behalf of the delegation,shortly after the meeting, the  Imo State governor, Rochas was yet to approve a zoning formula but that a committee has been set up to review the zoning arrangement.

“Well, as it is now no position has been zoned to anyone. A committee is been set up to review the entire zoning thing, there has not been any zoning at all, any speculation is not real because it has not come from the APC or from us, it was a mere speculative reports but right now a committee is being set up to review all those allocations and distribution of appointments in Nigeria,” he said.

He said although Buhari could not  secure substantial votes in the the south-east presidential election, they were able to cutdown the over 7.2 million votes that the PDP had projected to get from the region.

“We (South-east APC)  are more victorious than you are on your victory at the presidential election, many of us would have gone on exile if you had lost. Although we could not deliver the south-east to you, what we were able to do however was to cutdown the 7.2 million votes the PDP had projected to get from the south-east,” Okorocha said.

While expressing hope that Buhari’s government will be successful and as well supports the cause of the South-east, Okorocha appealed that the region should be considered for the position of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.

“ We  know that we’ve lost out for the position of senate presidency because we do not have a high-ranking senator returned to the National Assembly. We however appeal and we believe that you will be generous enough to consider the south-east region for the position of the SGF.”

Speaking on the agreement reached at the South-east caucus meeting, Okoroacha said the zone has unanimously agreed that Ogbonnaya Onu should be recognised as the leader of the party in the south-east.

In his remark, Ogbonnaya Onu said Buhari’s victory has brought succour and respite to the entire nation.

“Nigeria is more united  now even  before the elections. The division that existed in the country before now has been  removed due to Buhari’s victory.
Responding, Buhari thanked the south-east APC for the role it played in ensuring that it reduced the deficit of votes the PDP gathered in the region in the last election. He assured that his government will carry everyone along irrespective of race, region and tribe.

Culled from Thisday