Allow NASS members to choose leaders,Delta Youth tells Tinubu

By Abubakar Yunus, Abuja

The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) has called on the President-elect, Bola Tinubu to allow members of the National Assembly to exercise their rights to vote and be voted for, without being hindered by zoning restrictions.

The group in a statement issued Thursday by its National Coordinator, Israel Uwejeyan, said the President-elect must remain resolute in his dedication to national unity, rejecting any attempts by mischief makers to sow seeds of discord and division among different regions of our beloved nation.

It noted it found it expedient to address the mounting concerns over the attempt to deprive the respective elected members of the coming National Assembly.

The group warned the President-elect of the inherent complications of not upholding the fundamental principles of democracy by allowing members of the National Assembly to exercise their rights to their leaders without any form of restriction.

It said: “Restricting principal offices to specific regions limits the ability of capable and qualified individuals from other regions to contribute their skills and expertise to the development and progress of our great nation.”

The NDYC stressed that Tinubu should take cue from his party’s presidential primary elections, where interested candidates from all regions were allowed to contest and delegates had the opportunity to vote for their preferred candidate.

It added that Tinubu must beware of those who swarm around him marketing the dangerous merchandise that imposition of a leadership on the National Assembly would bear any fruit.

He should know that these people are enemies of his personality and therefore working to place hurdles on the path of the incoming administration.

In this regard, the President-elect is urged to exercise discernment and discretion, refusing to heed the whispers of those who seek to undermine his administration and tarnish his legacy before it even commences by pitching certain regions and the masses at large.

It said: “We beseech him to disregard the voices of discord and division, and instead foster an environment of unity, cooperation, and progress.

“The Niger Delta Youth Congress (NDYC) respectfully appeals to the President-elect to embrace the principles of neutrality, equity, fairness, and inclusivity in our democracy. We implore the President-elect to allow members of the National Assembly to exercise their rights to vote and be voted for, without being hindered by zoning restrictions. By doing so, we can pave the way for a stronger, more representative, and united Nigeria.

“By allowing members of the National Assembly to exercise their democratic rights, regardless of their region, we can foster a healthy competition of ideas, skills, and experiences that will enrich the legislative process and governance as a whole.”