The battle of wits in the All Progressives Congress (APC) is again on. Unfortunately, it is on the eve of the election of principal officers of the National Assembly.
The National Working Committee (NWC) has resolved to probe the activities of one of its top guns, Deputy National Chairman (North), Senator Lawali Shuaibu, who wrote and made public a stinker asking Chairman Adams Oshiomhole to throw in the towel for some of the failures of the party at the last polls.
In addition to giving Oshiomhole a pat on the back for a job well done so far, it turned a flip side setting up a five-man committee to investigate Shuaibu for:
▪ The allegation leveled by Shuaibu against the National Chairman on issues involving the collective decisions of the National Working Committee.
▪ The instigation of Senators/Members of the House of Representatives by Senator Lawal Shuaibu against the decision of the Party on the choice of the Presiding Officers for both chambers (Senate and the House of Representatives) at the banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, even when these issues were all discussed and agreed by all members of the National Working Committee (NWC).
“Sen. Lawal Shuaibu’s action was particularly embarrassing by moving around the Senators/Members of the House of Representatives to revolt while Mr. President was making his concluding remarks on the need for APC to present one candidate to avoid a divided house”, an APC statement revealing the resolutions of the NWC, signed by its spokesman, Mallam Lanre Isa-Onilu, said.
The Investigation Committee is to submit its report to the NWC within seven days.
Meanwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended Senator Danjuma Goje’s decision to withdraw from the 9th Senate Presidency contest in support of the Party’s endorsed candidate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
It also commended the fatherly role played by President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring compliance with party decisions and directives.
A statement by the party said: “Goje has demonstrated himself as a reliable, committed party leader, good role model and elder statesman. We believe that Goje’s selfless actions typify APC’s progressive ideals and should be emulated by all party members to ensure unity, strength and supremacy of our great party. There is no doubt that the majority APC caucus is going into the incoming 9th National Assembly as a united house.
“On the sponsored reports against Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, the Party’s candidate for the Speakership position, 9th House of Representatives, that he was ‘convicted’ by a Court in the United States of America, we urge Nigerians to ignore the phantom and infantile allegations.
“The allegations have become a reoccurring fabrication. Nigerians will recall that the same baseless allegation were made against Gbajabiamila in the leadup to the 8th National Assembly speakership race and came to naught. It needs restating that Gbajabiamila has never been convicted for any crime in Nigeria and abroad.
“We urge Gbajabiamila and his vibrant campaign team to remain focused on their extensive countywide consultation and engagements which has been well-received and endorsed across party lines.
“Ahead of the June 11 inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, we urge all APC federal lawmakers to rally around the candidatures of Senator Ahmad Lawan, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and all our candidates for the respective principal positions”.