Former Special Adviser on National Assembly Affairs to former President Shehu Shagari in the second republic, Alhaji Tanko Yakassai, has accused President Muhammadu Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC-led government of marginalising people of the South East region in the allotment of principal offices at the National Assembly and other national portfolios.
He said the lopsided apportioning of national offices could culminate in disunity of the country, noting that the unbalanced allocation of offices with disregard to the need to respect balanced zoning formula would not augur well for the polity.
As stated by him, President Muhammadu Buhari, though earlier vowed not to interfere in the crisis that rocked the National Assembly, was later compelled to swallow his pride by the disturbing situation.
Cautioning those clamouring for the ouster of the Deputy Senate President, DSP, Ike Ekwerenmadu, to weigh the disastrous consequence that may emanate from their planned action and desist henceforth from proceeding with their plans, Yakassai stressed that the emergence of Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila as House Leader deprived the South East zone of getting one of the principal offices in the lower chamber of the National Assembly.
In an interview yesterday in Kano, Yakassai said that House Speaker, Rt. Hon Yakubu Dogara, was also stampeded into swallowing his ego, by jettisoning his earlier stance to abide by the principles of federal character.
He noted that Dogara succumbed to the whims and caprices of President Muhammadu Buhari and Senator Bola Tinubu, alleging that Senator Tinubu was hell bent on achieving personal interest against national interest, adding that the party chief equally swallowed his pride by attending the party’s NEC meeting.