(News Investigators)/ The Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, says the All Progressives Party (APC) lawmakers that defected from the party on Tuesday have promised to support president Muhammadu Buhari in his reelection bid.
Mr. Enang, a former senator, said the lawmakers were angry at some governors and party leaders and not Mr Buhari.
According to him, their grievances and consequent actions “are not directed against President Buhari nor his re-election bid, but domestic actors in their constituency political fields such as the Governors, State party leaders or frustration over zoning or indeed calculations for a return ticket or platform for 2019 elections”.
Fifteen senators defected from the APC last Tuesday, while 36 members of the House of Representatives also dumped the party same day. Majority of them joined the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).
Speaking to journalists at the National Assembly on Thursday, Mr Enang said ”other aggrieved members of the APC have not defected” but have merely indicated their intention to defect..
“In fact, in my interaction pre and post expression of intent to defect, all the dramatis personae the distinguished Senators and hon members expressed their solidarity and support for Mr President and expressed categorically that their grievances and consequent actions are not directed against President Buhari nor his re-election bid, but domestic actors in their constituency political fields such as the Governors, State party leaders or frustration over zoning or indeed calculations for a return ticket or platform for 2019 elections.
“Indeed, a great number of them have indicated that even if they pursue their bid on a different political platform, they will still campaign for President Buhari for 2019 on the APC platform,” he said.
According to Mr. Enang, the defection by lawmakers are group notice to switch camps.
“It is inchoate and leaves windows, doors and rooms for further consultation for resolution because our party minds and cares for all members in or out of office. And like the Holy Bible enjoins, if you lose one sheep out of 100, preserve 99 and go and search for the one lost.
“The Executive will keep treating the legislators with respect due their person and offices and keep working with them as legislators for the Federal Republic of Nigeria who make laws for the Executive to execute irrespective of their individual political decisions, while leaving all options open for conciliation,” he added.
He wished lawmakers a restful vacation. He however announced that the Executive will be consulting with the Legislature over matters pending such as ”2018 virement proposals, approval of borrowings to fund the 2018 Appropriation, approval of the pending 2018 budget of 64 Government owned Corporations laid by Mr Buhari along with the 2018 budget, including request for approval of appointments which pendency has affected the fulfillment of the purposes meant”.
