Some leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State under the aegis of APC Good Governance Group, AGGG have protested against the “unfair treatment” meted against the non-inclusion of a South South officer in the Directorate of the All Progressive Congress, APC, National Office, Abuja.
They made this known while expressing the inequality, unfairness, and marginalization in the political office recognition of other zones in the country to the detriment of the South South; particularly Cross River State.
The aggrieved APC members under the leadership of Ntufam Okon Ita alleged that that the South South have been shortchanged by an “unfair and unacceptable sharing formula”; even when His Excellency, Gov Ben Ayade wrote to the National Chairman of the Party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu recommending Mr Adie Ferdinand Atsu to be appointed as Director of Organization in the National Office.
In a letter dated 24th June, 2022 and addressed to the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the governor said:
“I write to recommend Mr Adie Ferdinand Atsu for appointment as the Director of Organization in our National Office. Mr Adie is a devoted , long standing and financially committed party faithful who has constantly worked to uphold the ideals and mission of our great party at the state and national level. He is personally known to me and has proven to be a good team player who possesses great work ethics and innovative skills that I belief he will bring to bear at the party national office”.
The leaders said this is an anomaly that must be corrected in the interest of the party to ensure fairness, justice, and equity. They said the APC have about eight directorates for the Six Zones in the National headquarters recommended by the party’s constitution. Some zones has three while South-South has none. The governor recommended Mr Adie Ferdinand Atsu for the South- South immediately the NWC assumed office but nothing is yet to be done even when other zones have occupied their slots. The Eight directorates are enough for every zone to have at least one slot”.
“The South-South geopolitical zone is embittered at the way and manner our collective interest has been shortchanged in the National Office of the party even on the Governor’s recommendation for the position”.
“It is our belief and this has been our stand all the while that APC success is our success, but in a situation where political appointments were shared and allocated but the person recommended to occupy the South-South slot is yet to be appointed is no longer acceptable to us. And it is becoming counter-productive”.
The APC members said it is becoming highly worrisome that something urgent have to be done to salvage the situation.
“The only thing that we all believe is for the leadership of APC to considerably appoint Mr Ferdinand Atsu as the Director of Organization in the National Office of the party in line with Article 16,ix, P79 of the party’s constitution which recommends federal character must be met according to geopolitical zones.
In the same vein, the group is appealing to the National Woman Leader of the party, Dr Betta Edu to use her good office as a member of the National Working Committee, NWC in ensuring that Mr Adie Ferdinand Atsu is given the position in line with Gov Ben Ayade’s recommendation to the National Chairman of the party.