APC crisis deepens as Saraki again defiles party

There seems to be no let- up on the crisis rocking the All Progressives
Congress ( APC) . The naming of principal officers for the Eighth Senate has
added salt to the party’s wound . By refusing to honour the party’s
position , Dr . Bukola Saraki has re- enacted the controversy that threw him
up as Senate President on June 9 .
Rather than read the letter written to the Senate by APC’s National
Chairman Chief John Odigie - Oyegun on the floor of the Upper Chamber on
Wednesday , he ruled Senator Gbenga Ashafa, who brought up a motion on
the matter , out of order .
The letter spelt out the party’s position and its choice candidates for
principal offices in the Senate.
In it are the names of senators Ahmed Lawan ( Northeast , Majority
Leader ); George Akume ( Northcentral , Deputy Majority Leader ); Prof . Sola
Adeyeye ( Southwest Chief Whip) and Abu Ibrahim ( Northwest, Deputy
Chief Whip ) .
A similar letter to House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara,
listed the names of preferred candidates for the principal offices in the
lower legislative chamber. They are : Femi Gbajabiamila ( House Leader ) ,
Southwest ; Alhassan Ado Doguwa ( Deputy House Leader ) , Northwest;
M . T . Monguno ( Chief Whip) , Northeast and Pally Iriase ( Deputy Chief
Whip ) , Southsouth.
Saraki directed the caucuses in the senate to meet and submit their
nominees for the principal offices . He discountenanced the chairman ’s
letter conveying the party position.
Before adjourning yesterday till July 21 , Saraki named the principal
officers .
Constitutional lawyer Prof Itse Sagay , ( SAN ) , described Saraki ’s defiance
as a rebellion against the party.
“ It is a rebellion against the process that brought him to the Upper
Chamber of the National Assembly . It is the height of indiscipline that
could lead to party’s collapse if care is not taken , ” he said
Sagay went on : “The leadership of the APC should take the bull by the
horn and discipline over ambitious Saraki . He should be expelled from the
party before he destroyed it . Saraki has succeeded in destabilising the
APC through his in- subordinate and confrontational attitude.
“ The party should make its position known and stand by its nominees for
the principal offices in the Senate. APC should call the bluff of arrogant
and power conscious senate president.
“ The party should not condone indiscipline . It should mete out severe
punishment to Saraki and his co- travellers in the Senate who belong to
the ruling party”.
Another lawyer , Monday Ubani , described Saraki ’s posturing as very sad .
According to him , with what has played out again in the selection of
principal officers , if Saraki has his way, and if he remains as Senate
President , everything he does will favour members of the Senate and not
the APC.
Ubani , a former Chairman , Nigerian Bar Association , Ikeja branch, said
Saraki ’s allegiance will be to the members of the Senate , particularly those
who facilitated his emergence as Senate President .
The former NBA chair said : “ His ( Saraki ’s ) ambition has put him in a
quagmire and he is ready to do the evil. He will not take directive from the
party but from members. Saraki will go back to PDP sooner or later .
“ APC is in trouble with such a man occupying that position . His
disposition will affect the executive arm of government . With such a
conservative element at the helm of the National Assembly , the change
APC is working for will be perverted . Nigeria is in trouble. ”