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In veiled jab, Oshiomhole directs APC committees to screen out ‘opportunists’ like Saraki, Dogara

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In veiled jab, Oshiomhole directs APC committees to look out for ‘opportunists’ like Saraki, Dogara

The national chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole, on Monday told the Governorship/National Assembly screening committees to ensure that only men and women of integrity, who cannot be compromised are allowed as aspirants for the party primaries.

Oshiomhole did not mention names of Senate President Bukola Saraki, and House of Representatives Speaker Yakubu Dogara, but painted a picture suggesting he was referring to them, as he vowed that the APC would not “field opportunists” like the two leaders “who have chosen to put their personal interest over and above the national interest”.

The APC chairman was addressing members of the screening committees in Abuja when he said this, noting that the ruling party had learnt from its past mistakes and was ready to correct such mistake and make sure “bread and butter politicians” were not given the party’s tickets to contest the forthcoming general elections.

“We do not want to field opportunists who are simply seeking a political vehicle for some selfish purposes. What has happened in recent past is enough for us to begin to look at the character of those who are seeking office in the APC platform.

“If before now we have taken for granted the powers of the National Assembly, how those powers can be used for national goals and how it can also be misused to undermine national progress. The current situation we are facing here, where two principal officers have chosen to put their personal interest over and above the national interest.

“Refusing to consider budget meant for physical infrastructure. Budget meant to re-order the way our budget is executed, to move money away from consumption, which recurrent expenditure represents, to capital projects, which will benefit our people,” he said.

Regretting the delay by the National Assembly to pass the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission for the 2019 elections, Oshiomhole said, “For us as a party, we have chosen to learn from the positive lessons from this development so that we do not repeat those mistakes by selecting people who as far as human capacity is concerned, we can assess and predict that if elected, they will remain faithful not only to our party but more importantly to the Nigerian nation.”

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On APC’s 57 senators who stick with it during the trying times he said, “As we speak, I am proud that we have 57 senators who have refused to be induced or misled or otherwise manipulated into moving to other parties or reward for juicy positions.

“It will be ungodly for us as a party not to reward those who believe in the party and the government of the day led by President Muhammadu Buhari.”

Also bemoaning efforts his leadership of the party was still making to address what he said was the “fraudulent” state congresses conducted by the previous party executive, Oshiomhole said, “In many of the states, we had challenges arising from the way congresses were conducted. Many of them were quite fraudulent; that has been the challenge we have been trying to resolve since we came.

“Screening of aspirants is not a formality. That is why we tried to search for men and women of integrity who cannot be compromised.”

By Ebere Ndukwu …

 

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