Media practitioners among whom are a former President of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, former President of National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Mrs. Bose Oyewole and Mr. Kehinde Olaosebikan, a former Chief Press Secretary to former governor, Lamidi Adesina have declared that the South East zone should be allowed to produce the next Senate President.
The trio enjoined the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to zone the position to the zone for the sake of equity, justice and fairness.
They made these disclosures while speaking during a one-day discussion tagged “State of the Nation” organised by Raji Adebayo led Correspondents’ chapel, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Oyo state council on Wednesday.
Other speakers who spoke during the roundtable discussion held at NUJ secretariat in Ibadan included a former Chairman of NUJ in Oyo state, Mr. Victor Oluwadamilare, Chairman, League of Veteran Journalists, Chief Banji Ogundele and Mrs. Kemi Ajayi, a veteran broadcaster.
Those who spoke during the event explained that South East is the only region that is yet to produce a President since 1999.
They, however, said that in order to douse tension in the region, South East should be allowed to produce Senate President.
Ogundipe in his contribution, explained that the South West and North West have produced President and Vice President and the South East should be the next to produce Senate President.
He added that the APC should Iook at the antecedents of the contestants, adding that Senator Osita Bonaventure Izunaso stands talk among them.
He said, “The South West and North West have produced President and Vice President and the South East should be the next to produce Senate President. We must scrutinize their CVs and among them, Osita Izunaso stands talk among them. He is the only one without any garbage”.
Oyewole in her contribution, insisted that the APC should allow the South East zone to produce the next Senate President.
Oluwadamilare in his remark, explained that the South East should be given the opportunity so as to douse the agitation and tension in the zone.
“It will be fair for APC to pick someone from South East for Senate President. They have been crying over marginalisation and they should be given the opportunity. The best is to give them so as to douse the tension. We are not politicians but members of the fourth estate and that is why we are saying that the zone should be given the opportunity and someone who does not have any garbage, Osita Izunaso should be allowed because he is the only one with fresh air and fresh ideas”.
Olaosebikan in his contribution noted that the slot should be given to the zone so as to placate them and douse the tension in the zone.
He said that northerners and those from the South West have no business in vying for the position during the 10th national assembly.
“South West and South South have produced the President and Vice before, the only region that has not done it is South East. The South West and North West have president and vice president already.
“It will not be nice for the North or South South to vie for the position at this time around, the APC should look for someone in the South East as Senate President and Osita Izunaso has the best profile. He is the most ranked among them”.
