Ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Director-General, Arewa Summit International, Dr. Bashir Lamido has argued that the ruling party , All Progressives Congress(APC) will secure enough votes in the South Eastern Region, particularly South East region that will give the party victory at presidential election.
He listed Sen. Orji Uzor, governors Dave Umahi, Hope Uzodimma and others who are on ground to ensure the victory of APC in South East.
He urged APC to ignore insinuations that South East will vote against it, saying it is a propaganda to discourage the party.
He said, “Against the backdrop that the South East will not give the party votes, I can confidently tell you that the votes from the South East is what will cement the party’s victory. We should not believe the propaganda that South East won’t vote for APC. It’s all lies aimed at discouraging our candidates.
“We have people like Orji Uzor Kalu and Dave Umahi who are on ground, committed to the party and understand the local politics . Their people will vote for them and vote for the party. We also have Hope Uzodinma and a couple of other committed party members in the South East. They will surely deliver the party.”
He also called on the APC to make their plans for the various regions before the election start in terms of the positions available to them.
He argued that lack of sense of belonging to other regions has been the issue in Nigeria, adding that Tinubu/Shettima ticket will emerge with landslide if they shun nepotism and carry all regions along.
Speaking further, Lamido said that since the South West will produce the President and North East the Vice President, other positions should be shared to other zones ahead of the election.
The Senate Presidency should be given to the South-East, while the North-West should go for the Speakership slot.
Lamido advised that the arrangement will help to win elections for Tinubu and the APC
Others are Deputy Senate President—North Central,
Deputy Speaker—-South South, Senate Leader—North East, House Leader—South East,
Deputy Leader Senate-South South,
Deputy Leader House —North West,
Senate Chief Whip —-South West,
Chief Whip House —South South.
Lamido explained that the arrangement is to mirror what the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as the ruling party in 1999 presented as a governance outlook with Olusegun Obasanjo from the South-West as president. His deputy then, Atiku Abubakar, is from Adamawa in North-East.
According to him, late Evan Enwerem, the first Senate President, was from the South East. The disgraced first Speaker, Salisu Buhari, is from Kano, North-West.
“Though Enwerem and Buhari were booted out of office for forgery, the slots remained in the two zones for the eight years Obasanjo and SouthWest kept the presidency.” Dr Lamido said.
