By Ahmed Tukur
The North Central National Vice chairman of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Ahmed Wambai, has said that any member of the party who renege on the decision of the party as regards the choice of the National Assembly leadership would face the consequences of their disloyalty.
Mr Wambai, in an interview with newsmen in Lafia, urged the members of the party in the National Assembly to respect the decisions of the party at all times.
“In 2015 when Senator Saraki came through the back door without the input of the party and the executive, the president kept quiet but it later led to the retirement of some people in the arena.”
He, however, blamed the media for the hype over the issue of the leadership of the National Assembly.
READ ALSO: Saraki disturbed as Kwara records low voters’ turn-out
“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,” he added.
He also denied the assertion that the APC national leader, Bola Tinubu, was teleguiding and forcing decisions on the party especially on the issue of the leadership of the national assembly.
According to him, Mr Tinubu was quoted out of context over a statement that anybody who would not accept Femi Gbajabiamila as speaker should leave the party.
He added: “Tinubu is a respected party leader but he is not a member of 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 been teleguided by Tinubu or the president it’s a purely party decision”.
Mr Wambai disclosed that the party had taken a decision on Ahmed Lawan as the Senate President after wide consultation and discussion with relevant stakeholders.
“The party held a meeting with the legislators both old and new before we took this decision then the party move to the villa collectively we were there, senators were there before the president and then party re-iterated their position.
READ ALSO: NASS leadership: How APC may rock the boat at take-off, by Ahmed Wadada
“We didn’t not 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,” he added.
He said the decision to pick Lawan was for 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 is 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 from 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 added.
He further explained that the party is yet to take any decision on the speaker as those saying Mr Gbajabiamila is the party’s choice are ignorant of the internal workings of the APC.
READ ALSO: Ndume meets Osinbajo, insists on contesting for Senate President seat
“Although anybody can aspire for the speaker but the party is yet to take a decision on who emerges as the speaker or which zone produces the next speaker of the national assembly’.
“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 added that the party will wield its big stick against any party member who renegade on that decision.
Mr Wambai said that the party hierarchy will be present at the national assembly during the election of the leadership to witness proceedings.
