The Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang, has announced that All Progressives Congress (APC) lawmakers who have decamped will still campaign for the President regardless of their political party.
According to Enang, the lawmakers did not leave because of the President but as a result of local politics.
Speaking in a press briefing on Thursday, the Presidential aide said the Executive will continue to treat the defected lawmakers with the respect they deserve.
He said: “…in all the grievances expressed, none is attributed or directed at President Muhammadu Buhari, nor his actions or any action or omission of the President or the Federal Government.
“Indeed a great number of them have indicated that even if they pursue their bid on a different political platform they will still campaign for President Buhari for 2019 on the APC platform.
“The Executive will keep treating the legislators with respect due their person and offices and keep working with them as Legislators for the Federal Republic of Nigeria who make laws for the Executive to execute irrespective of their individual political decisions, while leaving all options open for conciliation.”
Enang also stated that the Executive will be consulting with the Legislature over matters waiting for consideration such as the “2018 Virement Proposals, approval of borrowings to fund the 2018 Appropriation Bill, approval of the pending 2018 budget of 64 government-owned corporations laid by Mr. President along with the 2018 budget, including a request for approval of appointments.
“We pray the legislature will find the normal ingenious patriotic means and time to attend to these within the period of the vacation in the interest of the nation which the legislature is passionately committed to.”
