By CHARLES IWUOHA

The North Central Development initiative (NCDI) has urged President Bola Tinubu and other leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to return the party?s national chairmanship position to North Central zone.

The group, meanwhile, expressed happiness to the leader of North Central region and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, and the representatives at the national assembly, for the collective efforts that led to the creation and signing of the bill establishing the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

It advocated the establishment of a joint security network for the region, to help tackle the current insecurity in the zone and to enable the new development commission to carry out its developmental projects and programmes effectively.

Addressing a press conference on Tuesday in Abuja, NCDI Director General/National coordinator, Comrade Musa Ali Otigba, argued that returning the national chairmanship position of the party to the North Central would balance the current political equation and enable the party enjoy the full support of North Central people.

He said: ?Distinguished ladies and gentlemen. One thing that you cannot take away from this President, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu that even the opposition can attest to, is the fact that, he is a listening President. He listens to the voices of the people especially on issues of politics and governance.

?You will recall, that, sometime ago, precisely on 28 November, 2023, this organization addressed a world press conference where we raised concerns about the perceived neglect of the north central region and its people in the area of appointments of key government officials and other sundry issues.

?Today, we are glad to inform you, that some of those concerns raised in that press briefing, are gradually being addressed by this listening President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and his government.

?But in particular, we are here today to express our heartfelt appreciation to Mr. President for signing the bill establishing the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

?Even though it has now become somewhat mandatory for all the regions to have a development commission because of the creation of ministry of regional development, we in the north central region, are particularly happy, that at last, our age-longed dream of joining the other sister regions in enjoying rapid social economic development, can now be achieved.

?Therefore, on behalf of the good and hardworking people of the north central region, we want to say, thank you, Mr. President for the kind gesture.

?We say thank you also to our own leader in the region and Secretary to the government of the federation, His Excellency, Senator George Akume, and thank you to all our Senators and members of House of Representatives from the region, for the collective efforts that saw to the establishment of this great commission.

?We hereby appeal to the presidency, especially the ministry of regional development, office of the SGF and all the relevant stakeholders, that, while constituting the board and management teams for the commission, please, ensure you appoint men and women of impeccable character and integrity who have the interest of the region at heart, and not those who would want to use the commission to become billionaires overnight.

?We emphasize on the credibility of the persons to be appointed so as to avoid unnecessary embezzlement of the collective resources of our people.

We shall also set up machineries to monitor the processes and activities of the commission to ensure that the right things are done at all time so that our people can enjoy the full benefits that the commission presents.

?We want to use this opportunity also, to appeal to the governors of north central region, including the state Houses of Assembly, to urgently consider and commence the process of establishing a joint security network for the region, like the ?Amotekun? in South West, ?Ebubeagu? in South East, and other such outfits in the different regions of Nigeria.

?The north central region needs such a body now more than ever before to help tackle the rising insecurity in the region and to give room for the expected development by the new commission.

?Finally, we want to appeal once again to Mr. President and all the leaders and stakeholders of our party, the APC, to maintain the zoning formula of 2022, by returning the position of national chairman of the party, to the north central zone, to balance the current political equation and to enable Mr. President and the APC, to enjoy the full support of north central people in future elections.

?This appeal becomes very imperative at this time, as the party prepares for another national convention that will usher in a new national working committee that will pilot the affairs of the party and lead the party to the 2027 general elections.

?The north central zone is purely an APC zone, judging from the outcome of the 2023 general elections.

All the governors in the zone except one state, were elected on the platform of the APC.

?The zone also produced a substantial number of members of both chambers of the national assembly from the region.

?More importantly, the efforts that gave victory to our party in the 2023 general elections, from the leadership of the party, to the presidential campaign council (PCC), and the Independent Campaign Council (ICC), were spearheaded by men from the north central region.

?And in actual vote counts, the region also produced the third highest number of votes after North West and South West regions.

?So, we have paid our dues for the party. It is therefore, natural and legitimate, that Mr. President and the leaders of the party, give to the north central people, what belongs to them, by returning the national chairmanship position of the party to the region.

?We are loyal party members and supporters of Mr. President and his government. We believe in him and we shall always stand by him, come rain, come sunshine.?