By Babangida Dajin
The All Progressive Congress (APC) State Legislators from the North-East zone of Nigeria have passed a vote of confidence on the Caretaker Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee led by the Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.
Speaker of the Bauchi State House of Assembly made this known during the meeting of the Conference of Nigeria State Legislatures, North-East zone which took place on Thursday at Hazibal Suite, Bauchi.
According to the speaker, the entire APC State lawmakers are loyal to the leadership of the party and believe in the wonderful performance of the CECPC under the leadership of Buni.
He added: “Although some people are criticizing them, the APC legislators in North-East are in full support of the Caretaker Committee going by the turn of things in the party.
“We support the Committee, we are behind Mai Mala, any decision taken by the leadership, we are behind it.”
Speaker Abubakar Suleiman advocated for the zoning of the presidential ticket of the party to the North in the spirit of balance and fairness so that the region will catch up with the Southern region that ruled for fourteen years.
He however explained that as loyal party members, they will support whatever decision the party made on the zoning arrangement.
The Speaker commended the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for convening the meeting noting that if the party zones its presidential ticket to the North, the Governor deserves to be the party’s flag bearer.
According to him, Yahaya Bello is a detribalised Nigerian politician who appointed people from all corners of Nigeria into his cabinet because of his belief in the unity and development of Nigeria.
“Yahaya Bello is a youth, energetic, athletic, agile, humble, straightforward and determined individual who is blessed with maturity, generosity, brilliance and promise-keeping.
“Governor Yahaya has transformed Kogi State through various developmental projects that changed the lives of the people of the State especially in the area of security in which he secured Kogi against all sorts of criminals. He is gender-sensitive and has a passion for the youth and women. His SSG, Head of Service, ADC and all Vice Chairmen of the 21 Local Governments of the State among others are women.
“Governor Yahaya Bello is a peace advocate who believes in the peace and unity of the Country. I recall when perishable food sellers embarked on an indefinite strike which almost divided the country but Yahaya Bello intervened and resolved the matter,” He added.
The Speaker urged the legislators from the zone to continue working together and speaking with one voice in order to bring more developments to the zone.
In his remarks, the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Matthew Kolawole appreciated the lawmakers of the North-East zone for their untiring commitment towards the growth and development of the zone and the country in general.
He appealed to the North-East zone and other geopolitical zones of the country to give the North Central zone the opportunity to produce the next President of Nigeria because it is the only region that has not produced an elected President or Vice President of Nigeria since independence in 1960.
According to him, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has signified his intention to lead the country in 2023 and because of his antecedents, qualities and unprecedented performance in security, economy, good governance, youth and women inclusiveness, infrastructural development, the Northeast lawmakers to support and endorse him as the candidate of the party.