The All Progressives Congress (APC) has condemned the heckling of
President Muhammadu Buhari by lawmakers of the Peoples Democratic Party,
during the budget presentation on Wednesday.
APC Publicity Secretary, Mallam Lanre Issa-Onilu |
According to a press release signed by the Publicity secretary of the APC , Malam Lanre Isa-Onilu, the APC said the
disgraceful conduct and actions of PDP legislative caucus have
succeeded in eroding the remnant of the public respect, that the Party
has in the eyes of any respectable Nigerian.
“The PDP has further confirmed its unsavoury image in the eyes of
well meaning Nigerians, that the party is largely populated by
self-serving and unpatriotic members, whose sole aim in politics is to
promote their self interests at the expense of the country’s interests.
“By law, respect for the office of the president or head of
government in any clime is not a matter of choice but a civic obligation
sanctioned by laws. Being an opposition party or critic is no licence
for such wayward conduct by the PDP legislative caucus; most especially
against the president of the country.
“Not even the admonition of the President to the PDP lawmakers that
“You are on international TV, comport yourselves. The world is watching
us; we should be above this,” failed to calm the unruly PDP elements.
“Nigerians are not oblivious of the actions and inactions of the
National Assembly presiding officers, Senate President, Bukola Saraki
and Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara while the President
was being heckled by the PDP legislative caucus.
Their failure to rein
in their unruly PDP colleagues, while their show of shame lasted clearly
confirmed that the PDP members’ action was premeditated and
orchestrated to embarrass the President.
“When the APC was in opposition, Nigerians will recall statements by
the PDP government that the immediate-past President Goodluck Jonathan
did not personally present the national budget to the National Assembly
based on fears that he will be heckled and embarrassed by the opposition
federal lawmakers at the time.
The fears turned out to be misplaced as
that never happened when Jonathan eventually presented the national
budget. Such shameful and undignified practice has no place in our
progressive ideology.
“The PDP lawmakers and their conniving leaders have a lot of
questions to answer. First, we wonder why they cannot stomach the
evident and verifiable achievements of the APC-led Government in the
areas of power, rail and road infrastructure, social intervention
programmes as contained in the proposed budget.”
The APC commends President Muhammadu Buhari for remaining calm and
focused during the budget presentation despite the provocation from PDP
lawmakers, an act of statesmanship that has been acknowledged by
Nigerians.
We are equally proud of the APC lawmakers, who stood firm in
defence of the President and our great party during the budget
presentation.
We call on the National Assembly to rise above political and selfish
interests by putting the country first in its consideration of the
proposed N8.83 trillion 2019 national budget.
The proposed budget
provides a realistic and implementable framework that will spur the
administration’s effort to achieve a prosperous, strong and stable
Nigeria.
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