Lai Muhammed. |
The
Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Sunday described
the recent defection of some governors and lawmakers from the ruling All
Progressives Congress (APC) as nothing but a storm in a teacup.
There
have been rumours making the round about the defection of the Senate Minority
Leader, Sen. Goodwill Akpabio, from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to APC.
Mohammed,
however, told newsmen in Lagos that those who left the ruling party did so for
personal interests.
“I
welcome it (defection of Akpabio) because all politics is local. All those who
have left us did that for purely personal reasons.
“Since
they say politics is a game of number, of course we welcome gladly the
defection of the minority leader. Like they say, it is one-one goalless draw.”
On
whether Akpabio was being positioned for the position of the Senate President,
Mohammed said “that I don’t know”.
Mohammed
said that the recent defection of some governors, state and federal lawmakers
to the main opposition party, PDP, was nothing to worry about.
“There
have been so much hype about this defection, and to me it’s nothing but a storm
in a teacup. We must appreciate the fact that at the end of the day, all
politics is local.
“One
should ask, what is the electoral value of these decampees? In other words,
today in Sokoto State, what’s the electoral value of those who have decamped,”
he asked?
According
to him, the foundation for the defection has been laid the moment Dr Bukola
Saraki emerged Senate President against the wish of the party which affected
the relationship between the executive and legislative arms.
The
minister said that since the day Saraki lobbied the opposition party to become
the Senate President, the relationship between the executive and legislature
had been turbulent.
“In
fact, we could not have suffered more as an executive in the hands of the
legislature if a PDP person had been the senate president,” he said.
On
allegation of lopsided appointment of Kwara people in Buhari’s administration,
Mohammad described it as unfounded.
He
said that no fewer than 24 indigenes of Kwara were given federal appointments
of which he (Mohammed) only recommended two while the Senate President
recommended 20.
On
those complaining of not being given juicy appointment, the minister said that
people complaining were not ready to serve and turn things around but eyeing
what to steal.
“It
is not true that a particular part of the country is being favoured against the
other.
“I
challenge anybody to go to the office of the Secretary to the Government of the
Federation and take out the list of appointees under this administration.”
“You
will be surprised that we have been fair to all,” the minister said.
Culled
from PM NEWS!
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