1. The North Central Renaissance Movement (NCRM) extends her felicitations to all political parties which have conducted valid and conclusive presidential primaries from which uncontested flag-bearers have emerged.
2. In particular, we congratulate the candidates of the four leading parties, in their order of emergence as flag-bearers: His Excellency, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), His Excellency, Mr. Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and His Excellency, Alhaji Musa Rabiu Kwankwaso of the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP).
3. The NCRM recognizes that the next Nigerian President will almost certainly emerge from one of the above-mentioned political parties and considers it expedient once again to make a strong and timely case for equity, diversity and inclusivity in the final composition of presidential tickets.
4. The Peoples Democratic Party and the New Nigerian Peoples Party having selected their flag-bearers from the North, equity, fairness and justice demand that their choice of running mates for their respective presidential candidates should compensate for diversity and inclusivity.
5. Speaking strictly for ourselves, and in the same spirit of equity, diversity and inclusivity we wish to make an appeal for the North Central Geopolitical Zone to be considered for the position of Vice President by the two political parties earlier mentioned above, whose flag-bearers have come from the South of Nigeria, and who must pick running mates from the North, that is, the All Progressives Congress and the Labour Party.
6. Our shared history as a nation provides the statistics upon which our plea and request is founded, mainly the fact that whereas all geopolitical zones including the North Central have produced the military rulers of Nigeria at one time or the other, it is only the North Central Geopolitical Zone which has not produced a democratically elected President or Vice President of The Republic of Nigeria since Independence.
7. This sad state of affairs places the claim of the North Central Geopolitical Zone to be included in the 2023 Presidential tickets of Parties where appropriate heads and shoulders above all others.
8. We wish to remind political parties, especially the APC and the LP that it would be tantamount to using unjust scales and unequal measures for them to choose their presidential candidates on the basis of equity, fairness and justice only to turn around and pick running mates on the basis of other considerations which negate the same principles.
9. We therefore urge the APC and the Labour Party and their esteemed flag-bearers to look at any of the highly qualified and politically suitable candidates from across the North Central Geopolitical Zone and select one of them – thereby making a choice which will resound to their credit far into the future.
10. It is also important to underscore that we are not asking for charity, but rather offering partnership, as the North Central Geopolitical Zone brings to the table a massive pool of savvy and engaged voters who, according to data from previous elections, especially the 2019 presidential elections, have largely proven to be tie-breakers so that whoever we align with goes on to win the election.
11. In conclusion, the North Central Geopolitical Zone contends that all the principles of equity, diversity, inclusivity, fairness and justice, support our claim to be in the Presidency in 2023 and we are offering bloc votes to any of the two leading parties with southern flag bearers mentioned herein that picks her running mate from amongst us,irrespective of the State, tribe or religion such. This is so because amongst us are a league of intelligent and eminently qualified politicians that can serve in that capacity. Some of whom have shown that clearly in this political season.
12. Thank you!
Food for Thought:
‘The world isn’t fair, Calvin.’
‘I know Dad, but why isn’t it ever unfair in my favor?’
-Bill Watterson, in The Essential Calvin and Hobbes: A Calvin and Hobbes Treasury
SIGNED:
Nghargbu K’tso (Chairman)
Aliyu Mustapha (Secretary)
Alexander David Onoja (Chief Strategist/PRO).