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‘Nigerians shouldn’t lose hope in APC over Saraki/Dogara’s issue’

By Seye Olumide
16 June 2015   |   11:05 pm
THE immediate past lawmaker who represented Epe Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Lanre Odubote has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience and not necessarily lose hope in the ruling party or President Muhammadu Buhari, over the controversy in the election of principal officers of the National Assembly, which…
Odubote

Odubote

THE immediate past lawmaker who represented Epe Federal Constituency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr. Lanre Odubote has appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience and not necessarily lose hope in the ruling party or President Muhammadu Buhari, over the controversy in the election of principal officers of the National Assembly, which produced Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as the Senate President and Speaker respectively.

The election of Saraki and Dogara, which he said obviously went against the desire of their party, which has preference for Senator Ahmed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila “should not be considered as a clog in the wheel of the APC to turn Nigeria around, as people are already insinuating.”

Reacting on the issue, which many Nigerians are beginning to perceive as ominous signs of division and lack of cohesion that may likely prevent the party from delivering on its promises, Odubote said, “Saraki and Dogara’s elections should not be taken beyond the normal politicking that is synonymous to an average Nigerian politician as it cannot in anyway stop President Buhari or the APC from implementing their manifestoes of change in the country.”

He said, “I do not see the duo of Saraki/Dogara doing anything in the National Assembly that would jeopardize or affect the positive programmes the APC has for the nation.

“It would be difficult, if not impossible for the duo to lead a hostile National Assembly to the presidency or frustrate the good and lofty agendas of their party for the good and development of Nigeria as long as Nigerians are optimistic and ready to remain resolute on seeing good governance and positive change. ”

While appealing to Nigerians not to see the development as a sign of crack within the APC, Odubote averred the APC “has no choice but to deliver on its campaign promises and also move the nation forward. This commitment transcends any individual ambition. ”

On the assumption that the emergence of Saraki and Dogara was aimed to reduce the influence the national leader of the APC, Bola Tinubu, by some individual within the party, the former lawmaker asked: “Why would anybody assumed Saraki and Dogara’s leadership of the National Assembly was targeted at embarrassing Tinubu?

“To what intent and purpose would such ambition move the country forward when all the parties involved in the APC merger agreed to fuse in the first instance to rescue the country from bad governance and collapse?

“Tinubu is not contesting for any position, it would therefore make no sense to assume some cabals are plotting his downfall. The National Assembly game plan was mere politics. We are all learning everyday.”

Odubote also pointed out the fact that Tinubu and some leaders of the party have achieved a great thing by ensuring the merger worked out “Tinubu is one of the pillars upon which the APC was formed, rested and is functioning.

“My candid advise to Nigerians is to dismiss the insinuations and cooperate with the government to move ahead.

“What should concern an average citizen of this great nation, is to continue to task, remind and ensure in whatever capacity, that the APC lives up to our expectations in terms of delivery of the dividends of democracy.”

He however warned those elements that were jubilating over the crisis or wising the ruling party bad “must take into cognizance that the country cannot afford to fail or accommodate another bad administration. The best checks and balances on any government is the red alert of the people to whatever is going on in the three arms of government.”

While he called on President Buhari never to loose focus over the development in the National Assembly, Odubote also admonishes Saraki and Dogara and other aggrieved APC lawmakers and the PDP lawmakers “to place Nigeria first in their thinking and actions.”

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