Northern group insists on NASS leadership for North

Northerners, under the auspices of the Democratic Research Institute (DRI), have said that their demand for the leadership of the National Assembly (NASS) is non-negotiable.

The group made this known when they converged on Kaduna at a one-day roundtable on nation-building and democracy.

They however threatened to withdraw support for the incoming government and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) unless the North is given the leadership of the National Assembly and other ministerial appointments.

In a communiqué issued after the roundtable and signed by the chairman and secretary of the communique committee, Professor Tukur Muhammad- Baba and Dr. Benjamin Izra Dikki respectively; the group underscored the need for equity and equitable development of Northern Nigeria.

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The group argued that the North gave the highest votes during the last presidential election and should be rewarded for it.

The group said the Northwest zone gave a total vote of 2,652235; the North Central gave 1,742,993 while the North East gave 1,185,458, adding that the total contributions of the North was 63.5%.

“We, therefore, demand the leadership of the National Assembly in consonance with the provisions of section 14 and sub-sections (1), (2) and (3) of the 1999 Constitution, as amended. This is necessary because the North is not in control of both the Executive and the Judiciary arms of government. This demand is non-negotiable,” the group said.