Group urges parties to zone presidential ticket to North Central in 2023
A political pressure group, North Central Renaissance Movement (NCRM) has urged political parties in Nigeria to zone their presidential tickets to the North Central in 2023.
Dr Nghargbu K’tso, the Chairman of the group stated this on Tuesday in Abuja at news conference to mark the end of its maiden congress.
K’tso said that the North Central was the only zone in Nigeria which has not produced a civilian president or vice president since the return to civil rule in 1999.
“The North Central has been excluded from producing or holding any of the two highest offices in the country since the return to democracy in 1999.
“Whereas, from 1960 till date, except for the period of military intervention in Nigerian politics, the North Central has not had the chance to produce an elected president in our dear nation Nigeria.
“The North Central has nevertheless faithfully aligned with the hopes and aspirations of the larger northern region,’’ he said.
K’tso said that the zone had over the years been short-changed in the political space of Nigeria.
“Including rendering political support to the North West and the North East in their several successful bids to secure both offices at the poll and wield the powers thereof.
“We have been reduced to the status of a minority in the majority, but we believe that our zone is both able and capable of serving the nation in the highest office of the president come 2023.
“It is on this premise that we, the NCRM demand in the interest of fairness, equity and justice that the 2023 presidency be ceded to our zone,’’ he said.
k’tso said that since the return to civil rule in 1999, only the north central and the south-east have not occupied the offices of president and vice president in the 22 county.
He said that the case of the north central was worse than that of the south-east, because the latter produced late Vice President Alex Ekwueme in Nigeria’s Second Republic.
The chairman said that the North Central has only dominated one area, the position of chairman of political parties since 1999.
This, he said, was an area which gave individuals power, without corresponding constitutional power to help their people or region with the fruits of governance and development.
“There is no better time than the current political dispensation to aim higher to contesting and win either presidents or vice.
“Such an action will simultaneously satisfy the demands of the zone and bring about the much desired development and growth,” he said.
According to him, north central is still at zero level in terms of access and ascension to the two top offices in the country.
“We therefore, resolved that now is the time to request for the same support from our brothers for a north central president in 2023,” he said.
He appealed to Nigerians to support and accommodate the quest of the north central to produce the president in 2023.
