House of Reps deputy speaker advocates virile opposition

Kano APC disowns Na’Abba’s move for new party

Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuf Sulaimon Lasun has canvassed a strong opposition party as against a new party as panacea to democratic challenges in the country.

His call is coming on the heels of jostling by politicians of different political leanings to form a new mega party as alternative to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and an escape for dissatisfied members of the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Besides, even as speculations mounts over the emergence of a new party, Alhaji Ghali Umar Na’Abba, former Speaker of the House of Representatives, yesterday in Kano floated a new political group christened Siyasar Kano Ina Mafita.

Speaking at Ilorin, Kwara state capital, Lasun warned politicians especially in the APC who have been inclining towards forming another party with members of other political parties to reconsider their stance.

Rather, he advised them to resort to the internal mechanism within the various parties to address any ill feelings, contending that the threat of dumping their parties would not take them anywhere in the country’s political landscape.

According to him, the APC government at the centre has opened up the space for effective governance, which he claimed was gradually impacting on Nigerians.

“Mega party, minor party or major party, the best thing in democracy is a virile opposition. If you do not have a virile opposition, it is very difficult to know whether you are doing the correct thing or not.

“The APC as a government is now doing its best and all Nigerians now see that the ruling APC means well for them. Nigerians now know what is going on in the NNPC (Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation), FRSC (Federal Road Safety Commission), EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) among others, as there is no secrecy in the act of governance unlike the past administrations.

Lasun urged the public to take advantage of the gesture to continue to support “the government in the task of building a virile nation rather than threatening to go to another party”.

However, he asserted that APC as a party was not in any way under threat stressing “Whether some politicians in the APC are allegedly planning to form a mega party, minor party, we are not threatened at all.

“And don’t forget that in politics, it will take time to take root and if anybody feels aggrieved that he had been maltreated in the party,‎ then they should follow what they used to preach to us. I mean internal peaceful resolutions within the party … if there is a problem in the party, we should stay within the party and sort it out amicably.”

The deputy Speaker said that the National Assembly has remained open in its legislative functions to the people especially in the area of budget, presentations of bills and making of laws‎ for the Nigerians, and urged the people not to despair.

Meanwhile, Na’Abba has formed new coalition of political group in Kano, designed to reposition the injustice being met out to key political figures in the state.

Inaugurating the new association, he explained that Siyasar Kano Ina Mafita (Kano Politics, the way out,) has become necessary considering the way and manner politicians were being deprived of their political rights in all the political parties in the state.

“The political group is to sort for a possible way out of the present situation faced by deprived members of various parties. We have seen the damages done to democracy in Nigeria for almost two decades now, and you will agree with me that the outcome of such damages done to Nigerian politics only spelt doom for politicians.

“We have asked ourselves that for how long shall we fold our hands and watch things go from bad to worse. It is time for us to unite and look for possible avenues to liberate Nigerian polity and Nigerian Politicians,” the former Speaker of House of Representatives argued.

Earlier one of the leaders of the political group, Professor Sule Bello said the group has members that cut across all political parties with the aim of liberating all politicians being politically deprived.

But the APC in Kano has condemned the new group saying the party does not recognize any association apart from the legally formed political parties.

The party’s spokesperson, Engr. Yahaya Karaye informed The Guardian that the move by the former speaker was a desperate attempt to pluralize the APC in the State.

He cautioned members of the Siyasar Kano Ina Mafita to be conscious of the implication of their action that could amount to anti-party activities urging them to resign their membership before forming another political alliance.

According to Karaye “ Alh. Ghali Na’Abba is well respected as one of the leader of the party in the state. But the new move suggested he was planning to float new party but my advice for him is to resign his membership with APC. Of course he has the liberty to join or form any party as constitution demand. This is democracy don’t forget.

“And talking of deprivation I don’t think the Governor Abdullahi Ganduje has ever denied the former speaker any right. I am sure the former speaker cannot look for the post of commissioner. The only political appointment I believe Alh. Ghali can contest for is governorship or as a senator. Or does he want to return to House of Representatives and if that is the case I will suggest he should wait for his time,” Karaye stated.