The APC National Chairman, John Odigie-Oyegun, on Monday said that the leadership crisis in the National Assembly might have delayed the sending of the ministerial list to the lawmakers for screening also.
But he said the APC was working assiduously to ensure that the differences among its National Assembly members were quickly resolved in the interest of the nation.
He added, “All other things will have to wait. This is because we don’t want a situation whereby the Senate will be divided if, for instance, the President says he wants to present his list of ministerial nominees.
“So, we are trying to sort that out; it is our number one priority. We are happy that we are arriving at an amicable settlement of the situation; this one cannot wait for long. It has to be immediate .”
He, however, explained that while the party was working with Buhari to build a formidable team comprising tested politicians and technocrats, the decision to appoint ministers and presidential aides was entirely the prerogative of the President.
Odigie-Oyegun, who dismissed insinuations that there was a rift between the party and the President over the ministerial list, appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the President because he needed to get a right team.
He said, “There is absolutely no dispute between the party and the President. We agreed that we shall use all manner of people: politicians, technocrats, all manner of people, even if not politicians, who can deliver and who subscribe passionately to the agenda of the President, to move this country forward, irrespective of where the people come from; irrespective of whether the person is a card-carrying member of the party.
“What is important is the qualification of the person and the ability of the person to deliver on the ideas of Mr. President.’’
But he said the APC was working assiduously to ensure that the differences among its National Assembly members were quickly resolved in the interest of the nation.
He added, “All other things will have to wait. This is because we don’t want a situation whereby the Senate will be divided if, for instance, the President says he wants to present his list of ministerial nominees.
“So, we are trying to sort that out; it is our number one priority. We are happy that we are arriving at an amicable settlement of the situation; this one cannot wait for long. It has to be immediate .”
He, however, explained that while the party was working with Buhari to build a formidable team comprising tested politicians and technocrats, the decision to appoint ministers and presidential aides was entirely the prerogative of the President.
Odigie-Oyegun, who dismissed insinuations that there was a rift between the party and the President over the ministerial list, appealed to Nigerians to exercise patience with the President because he needed to get a right team.
He said, “There is absolutely no dispute between the party and the President. We agreed that we shall use all manner of people: politicians, technocrats, all manner of people, even if not politicians, who can deliver and who subscribe passionately to the agenda of the President, to move this country forward, irrespective of where the people come from; irrespective of whether the person is a card-carrying member of the party.
“What is important is the qualification of the person and the ability of the person to deliver on the ideas of Mr. President.’’
Tags
Politics