Oyegun explains rift in NASS, delay in Buhari’s cabinet

The need for the ruling APC to put its house in order, may be part of the reasons, President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to present his list of nomination for ministerial appointments to the National Assembly.

National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun hinted that there is an ongoing crisis among leading figures within the APC, which emanated from the just concluded National Assembly leadership elections.

Chief Odigie-Oyegun, who spoke during an interview with newsmen at the party’s headquarters in Abuja, on Monday, noted that the party was working assiduously to ensure that the differences among its legislators were quickly resolved in the interest of the nation.

He explained that the unification of its members, in both chambers of the National Assembly, under the existing realities, remains the party’s first priority.

Odigie-Oyegun said, “All other things will have to wait. This is because, if for instance, the president says he wants to present his list of ministerial nominees to the Senate, we don’t want a situation whereby the senate will be divided.

“So we are trying to sort that out; it is our number one priority. We are happy that we are arriving at 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 the President to build a formidable team comprising of tested politicians and technocrats, the decision to appoint ministers and presidential aides was entirely the prerogative of the President.

He dismissed insinuations that the there is a rift between the party and the President over the ministerial list.

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.

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