Buhari’s Loyalists In Angry Mood Over The President’s Mute On Emergence Of Principal Officers Of The 9th National Assembly

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Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari are not happy with his refusal to set the tone and direction on the emergence of principal officers of the 9th National Assembly, SAHEL STANDARD can report.

Party leaders and even elected representatives had openly called on the President to give leadership and direction especially as the ruling All Progressives Congress now has overwhelming majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly.

They had expressed fears that non-challant attitudes may lead to a repeat of the 2015 drama when anti-Presidency forces took over the the leadership of the National Assembly.

To drive home the point of presidential lack of interest in the matter, the Presidency on Friday said President Muhammadu Buhari will not interfere in the emergence of new leadership of the ninth National Assembly.

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate) Ita Enang, disclosed this while addressing parliamentary reporters in Abuja.

He said the President believes so much in the rule of law, hence he would allow each arm of government to perform its constitutional responsibility without interference.

The President had also refused to meet some state governors who had expressly book appointments to see him on the matter.

Checks revealed that many party chiefs are worried that the development is a threat to the fragile victory of the party, leading to some leaders reportedly meeting Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to intervene in the matter before it is too late.

The national leader of the party, Tinubu is, however, reportedly wary of intervention for two major reasons.

First according to our source was that he spearheaded the 2015 pro-intervention moves which was later misinterpreted as his scheming for power.

Tinubu is this time around said to be deferring delicately to the President to avoid another round of power struggles with the inner Caucus of the President which Nigerians referred to as cabal.

Another reason it was gathered was that Tinubu and the South West are interested parties in the tussle.

Checks showed that Femi Gbajabiamila, a ranking lawmaker from Lagos is a candidate for the House Speakership. In the north, Ahmed Lawan who is also widely favoured from the North East is also an ally of Tinubu right from the 2015 struggle.

SAHEL STANDARD, however, learnt that powerful forces may have resolved to act irrespective of whether the President openly shows interest or not.

A source said “you dont expect the president to openly announce his preference. There is a system and the statement will act.

“I can assure you that the new leadership will emerge in line with the best interest of the ruling party. We won’t have 2015. Remmeber also that the party leadership is on the matter.

“APC is in control but we are shielding Mr President from the struggle. He is the father of all within the party”, the source said.

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