Ali Abare, Abuja
Ahead of the inauguration of the ninth assembly in June, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has threatened to retire any of its member who worked against the interest of the party in the election of principal officers of the National Assembly.
North Central National Vice Chairman of the party, Alhaji Ahmed Suleiman Wambai, handed down the warning in a chat with journalists, in Abuja, on Thursday.
Though the party expected both returning and newly elected members of the National Assembly to uphold its supremacy by adhering to the decision of the APC on who emerges as Senate President, Wambai however, warned those seeking to work against the interest of the party to remember what happened to incumbent Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The APC chieftain added that all those who disobey the party’s decision would surely be retired from politics as a consequence of their disloyalty.
“In 2015 when Sen. Saraki came through the back door without the input of the party and the executive, the President kept quite but it later led to the retirement of some people from the political arena,” he stated.
The senator equally blamed the media for the hype over the issue of the leadership of the National Assembly.
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He continued, “The media, both electronic and print, together with some people who are not members of the APC, have been amplifying the matter making unnecessary funfair. This an APC affair,” he said.
He also denied the assertion that Tinubu is teleguiding and forcing decisions on the party especially on the issue of the leadership of the National Assembly.
He said that Bola Ahmed Tinubu was quoted out of context over a statement that anybody who would not accept Femi Gbajabiamila as Speaker should leave the party.
“Tinubu is a respected party leader but he is not a member of the NWC and the decision to zone positions was not initiated by Tinubu. Even the President only concurred with the position of the party. We are not being teleguided by Tinubu or the President, it’s a purely party decision”.
Wambai disclosed that the party has taken a decision on Ahmed Lawan as the incoming Senate President after wide consultations and discussions with relevant stakeholders.
He said renegades will face the wrath of the party and Nigerians and that loyal party members are expected to respect the decisions of the party at all times.
“The party held a meeting with the legislators, both old and new, before we took this decision. Then the party moved to the Villa collectively, we were there, Senators were there before the President and then party re-iterated their position.
“We didn’t take the decision alone but made consultations at every level but we can’t stop any body from contesting because he has the right as a Nigerian,” Wambai stated.
He said the decision to pick Lawan was because of his loyalty and respect for the party and that the decision was also accepted by President Muhammadu Buhari.
“We sat down and said there is semblance of loyalty and cooperation and you know the reward of loyalty is good and in that spirit Ahmed Lawan during the defection saga was at the forefront of championing the cause of the party so we taught it’s morally right to reward him.
“The party has taken a decision, Mr. President has graciously taken a position. What we expect from all our loyal party members is compliance with the position of the party.
“The position of the APC is that we have set the rule and loyal members of our must respect the rule because in party affairs, there is discipline,” he said.
Sen. Wambai further explained that the party was yet to take any decision on the Speaker as those saying Gbajabiamila is the party’s choice are ignorant of the internal workings of the APC.
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“Although anybody can aspire to be the Speaker, the party is yet to take a decision on who emerges as the Speaker or which zone produces the next Speaker of the ninth House of Representatives.
“The party cannot be pre-empted, we only spoke on the Senate President. Since the President is from the North West, the Vice President from South West, and the Senate President should go to the North Central if the status quo will be maintained or to North East for power sharing equation.
“Everybody has the right to choose what he wanted but the party has taken a position and that exercise will be done in our presence, we are not forcing anybody but if you have your way, the party must have their say,” he further explained.
He warned that the party would wield the big stick against any party member who renegade on that decision, stressing that the party’s hierarchy would be present at the National Assembly during the election of the leadership to witness proceedings.
