The NCDI lamented that all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria except the north central, was considered in the national security architecture.
A socio-political advocacy group, the North Central Development Initiative (NCDI) has lamented that the North-Central region has no representation in the security architecture of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
The NCDI at a press conference in Abuja on Monday said this situation was worrisome, considering the myriads of security challenges facing the region, including “all kinds of banditry and other sundry crimes.”
The advocacy group spoke at the conference addressed by Musa Otigba; (Kogi State), DG/National Coordinator; Alhaji Mohammed Alabi, (Kwara State) Director, Administration; Dominic Alancha, (Benue State), Bashir Bago, (Niger State), Juliana Aliyu, (Plateau State), and Hannatu Aboki, (Nasarawa State).
Others are; David Ismaila (FCT) Oluseyi Sunday, (Kogi State) Babatunde Ahmed, (Kwara State) Pastor Teghtegh Fabian, (Benue State) and Dr. Zubairu Abdullahi, (Niger State).
The NCDI lamented that all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria except the north central, was considered in the national security architecture.
The statement reads in part; "This is an appeal to Mr. President, to please, treat every region fairly, particularly, the North-Central region that worked so hard for his victory; to save the region from political exclusion and irrelevance in conformity with Mr. President’s oath of offices where he agreed to treat all manners of people equally irrespective of their tribe, religion or faith professed.
"We are worried that a government we worked so hard against all odds to help establish, has decided to neglect the region and its people within such a short period of time.
"To our utmost surprise and dismay, Mr. President omitted one of his strong support bases, the North-Central region, in his appointments of heads of key government agencies made so far.
"From the analysis above, it is clear, that all the geopolitical zones in Nigeria except ours was considered in the national security architecture. In fact, some zones like the north west and south west got more than one slot, while the north central zone has noting.
“This is irrespective of the fact that we have officers of merit, competence and absolute loyalty in the region which today is under threat by all kinds of banditry and other sundry crimes.
"Let no one misunderstand our stand on this. We are not trying to politicize security. The point we are making is that the north central region has no representation in the security architecture in Nigeria as it stands today and we want Mr. President to do something about it.
"In the spirit of equity, justice and fairness, we hereby make the following requests from President Tinubu-led government. That President Tinubu should do something to ensure that the north central region is adequately represented in the national security architecture.”
"And to our leaders in the north central region – the governors, ministers and members of the National Assembly from the six states and the FCT, we call on you not to look the other way round because of the luxury of your offices, but to give your full support to this effort so that, together, we shall get justice for our people, as an injury to one they say, is an injury to all," the statement added.