Mixed reactions trail leadership tussle in National Assembly

Some residents of Lokoja in Kogi on Thursday expressed mixed feelings over the leadership tussle in the National Assembly.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that they were dissatisfied with the crises rocking the members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the National Assembly.

While some urged them to respect the party’s decision and their legislative duties, the others opined that the party should allow the legislators to choose their leadership.

A legal practitioner, Mr Peter Bolaji, said the APC legislator’s caucus that faulted the decision of the party leadership, acted in ignorance.

Bolaji said that the party’s decision supersede any elected members or group within the party.

He said those legislators were elected under the platform of their party, and therefore, they should respect the will of the party leadership without any rancour.

“We elected them to represent the interest of the masses, to go and perform robust legislative functions, and not for their own personal or selfish interest.

“Their business in the legislature is to make laws that will improve the wellbeing of Nigerians, and the earlier they realised that the better for them.

“Time is fast running out and if they failed to deliver their mandate by performing to our expectations, we will vote them out,” Bolaji said.

Mr Ralph Alabi, an opinion leader, said the APC should as a matter of urgency put their house in order, saying that was not the change for which they were voted.

He said both the legislators and the party leadership should shun personal interest and come together with one another, noting that the expectation of Nigerians from the party was high.

“APC cannot afford to waste anymore time, Nigerians are eagerly waiting to see and experience the change they voted for, they should not disappoint the electorate,” Alabi said.

Another resident, Mr Shola Dada, a civil servant, said all hands must be on deck in tackling the various challenges currently facing the nation, especially the issue of workers’ unpaid salaries.

According to him, the three arms of government should synergise to save the country from its security and economic crises by working harmoniously and make laws that will enhance the expected change.

While urging the leadership of the APC to find a lasting solution to its internal crises, he appealed to the aggrieved APC legislators to abide by the decisions of the party.

However, Mr Michael Fashe, a former federal legislator, was of the view that the legislators should be allowed to choose their leaders.

According to him, the emergence of the leadership in the legislature should not be influenced by any external force, be it party or other stakeholders.

“I think the legislators agitating for freedom to select their own leaders are right, and their view should be respected by APC leadership,” Fashe said.

NAN reports that the APC leadership, after consultations with its legislators, sent a list of preferred candidates for the remaining positions in the National Assembly.

The lists sent by APC to Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara were for majority leader, deputy majority leader, chief whip, and deputy chief whip.