The North Central Development Initiative (NCDI) has complained of “unfair and undeserving neglect of the north central region” by the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his Vice Senator Kashim Shetima.
The group which said the majority of its members were of the All Progressives Congress (APC), noted that the neglect was mostly in the area of appointment of heads of ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) since the inception of this administration on May 29, 2023.
Speaking at world press conference in Abuja, Monday, the Director General and National Coordinator, Comrade Musa Ali Otigba, appealed to the President to treat every region fairly, particularly, the north central region that worked so hard for his victory.
Otigba stated that this would save the region from political exclusion and irrelevance in conformity with Mr. President’s oath of office which he agreed to treat all manners of people equally irrespective of their tribe, religion or faith professed.
The group noted that ‘it is clear, that all the geo-political zones in Nigeria except the north central, was considered in the national security architecture. In fact, some zones like the north west and south west got more than one slot, while the north central zone has noting.
“This is irrespective of the fact that we have officers of merit, competence and absolute loyalty in the region which today is under threat by all kinds of banditry and other sundry crimes.
“The point we are making is that the north central region has no representation in the security architecture in Nigeria as it stands today and we want Mr. President to do something about it.
The group continued, “We are worried that a government we worked so hard against all odds to help establish, has decided to neglect the region and its people within such a short period of time.
“Let me start by reminding the president and our great party, the APC, that the north central geopolitical zone, which comprises of Benue, Nasarawa, Niger, Kogi, Kwara and Plateau states, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), delivered a total of 1,760,993 votes to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, in the February 25, 2023 presidential election.
“By this number, the region produced the third highest number of votes, after South west and North west zones, which produced 2, 279,407 and 2,652,235 votes respectively. We also delivered four out of the six states in the zone to the APC during the governorship elections in addition to Kogi etate which was already an APC state.
“But to our utmost surprise and dismay, Mr. President omitted one of his strong support base, the north central region, in his appointments of heads of key government agencies made so far. Politics, as you all know, is about investment.”
