Contrary to notions held in certain quarters, the North Central geopolitical zone of the country is getting its fair share of appointments, statutory allocations and developmental projects under the President Bola Tinubu-led administration.
This is the position of a nascent sociopolitical group, the North-Central Agenda, led by Dr. Ene Ogbole at a press conference held on Thursday in Abuja.
The group particularly referred to influential seats occupied by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Sen. George Akume, and the National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda, to buttress its position.
The Vice Chairman of the group, Mr. Danjuma Mohammed, argued that significant amounts of money invested in harnessing the solid mineral sector of the economy emphasise President Tinubu’s commitment to ensuring sustainable growth and development of the zone.
The stakeholders insist that those who claim the North Central zone is being marginalised are doing so only in pursuit of their selfish and mischievous political agenda.
Mohammed said, “Now, in the executive, which is of course the most implementing arm of government, the number two, of course, is the Vice-President from the North East. But the number two in terms of implementation of government policies is the SGF, who is from the North Central. And again, of course, you now have the national chairman of the ruling party from the North Central.
“The North Central is equally represented in several political appointments under this administration. And it’s just two years. You can see the president is still making appointments. But we should not, we must not focus on the appointment of individuals in government. What concerns this group? Yes, certainly, if North Central is shortchanged or marginalised, we’re going to cry out.
“There has never been a time in history that a government in Nigeria, whether military or civilian, has invested so much in the development of solid mineral resources in Nigeria like the Tinubu administration is doing, and 91 per cent of this expenditure is in the North Central. As we speak, two lithium factories are almost 90 per cent finished and set to be commissioned.
“I want to let you know that there has never been a time in the annals of democratic development in Nigeria where opposition, one way or the other, does not accuse a ruling party of marginalising a section or the other. However, regarding this particular accusation, it’s unfounded and baseless, given the realities on the ground. I mean, you cannot come from a region that has benefited from the highest national budgetary allocation of 2024 and still say you have been marginalised.”
Ogbole, who spoke in the same vein, appealed to political gladiators across party lines to immediately desist from heating up the polity in national interest, peace, decorum, and tranquillity to pave the way for broad-based national development in the country.
She noted that it is heart-warming and reassuring that the upsurge in revenue has presented opportunities for all tiers of government to respond swiftly and adequately address the socio-economic, political, and security needs of the North Central people and other regions of the country.
She further called on the citizenry in the zone to hold those in positions of authority at the state and local councils levels in the zone accountable for the utilisation of federal government statutory allocations to them.
She added: “We advise that all hands should be on deck regardless of party affiliation as we struggle to surmount this phase of global economic meltdown that has grossly devastated all economies around the world. It is our duty to let politicians know that patriotism is not about seeking power at all costs; it is about supporting those in government, whether we like them or not, to achieve the ultimate goal of delivering the dividends of democracy to the people, especially the poor and the vulnerable.”
She thereby expressed appreciation to President Tinubu over the appointment of Yilwatda as the National Chairman of the APC and the extension of the tenure of the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), adding that this development underscores an unprecedented milestone in revenue generation and reforms in the polity.
