Elder statesman, Alhaji Tanko Yakasai, has cautioned that scheming out the South-East in the power equation of the present administration is a threat to national unity and stability.
He lamented that federal character principle is being compromised by key government actors in the distribution of legislative positions to assuage the interest of a few individuals.
The First Republic lawmaker told reporters in Kano yesterday that going by the happenings in the House of Representatives, the South-East has been scarificed to satisfy the personal interests of some people.
‘As it is, the South-East has no representation among the configuration of the House leadership, but the South-West alone has two slots, all in an effort to satisfy the personal interest of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the interest of Majority Leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
“The implication is that now the South-East has no representation in the leadership structure of the House- In the entire National Assembly, the only representation the zone has is the Deputy Senate President, Senator Ike Ekwerenmadu.
“Those that are calling for his removal should realize the implication of their agitation, because it would mean that the South-East would be entirely excluded in the entire leadership structure of the National Assembly. This would not augur well for the unity of the country and the future stability of this nation,” Yakasai said.
Drawing from his experience as a parliamentarian in 1959, he cautioned, “that if an important block of the federation like the South-East is schemed out of the leadership of the National Assembly, it would not augur well for the unity and stability of the country”.
Yakasai noted that,“ President Muhammadu Buhari should realize that the South-East has been compromised in the scheme of things at the National Assembly and therefore, it would help his administration to think of compensating the people when he comes to making his political appointments.”
