Worried by the cold relationship between the
executive arm of government, the National Assembly
and the party, Chairman of the All Progressive
Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas
Okorocha of Imo state on Wednesday visited the
Senate President, Bukola Saraki where he preached
unity within the party.
Though, Governor Okorocha said that his visit to the
Senate was belated, nonetheless, “it is never late to
make amend where possible”.
Okorocha who told Saraki that he was visiting in his
capacity as the chairman of the APC Governors’
Forum, said, “This is the very first time I am coming
to your office and I am here because I am
concerned.
“I am here because I am a stakeholder. I am here as
the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum
– your friends and colleagues in the struggle. Mr.
Senate President, leaders of these great Senate, you
may recall a few years ago that we were all in the
trenches, in battle, asking for change in the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. I recall vividly the role most of
you played in that very struggle.
“We became a government when no one gave us a
chance to be so. And shortly, Nigerians believed in
us and entrusted us with the responsibility of
leading this nation. But one year and several months
after, we have not been able to manage this God-
given victory very well and it is very worrisome, Mr.
Senate President.
“That Nigerians expects so much from us but yet we
seem to be in crisis within ourselves. Not crisis
made by the opposition parties but crisis created by
ourselves for ourselves and which has kept us in
total difficult position that we are not making the
headway we need to make as a party.
“One wonders then what went wrong. Where did we
get it wrong? And after these troubles and after the
much hope we have given to Nigerians, we still
cannot work together as a party, as a family. And I
noticed particularly that there is so much bitterness
in the system – from the party, from the legislature,
from the executive, from the governors – and it
seems to me like there is no more platform for us to
chant those old songs which we used to sing in the
days of struggle for change. One wonders, was this
what we were asking for or was this the change we
were asking for. I think Nigerians expect so much
from us and at the end of it all.
“Nigerians will not ask us, how many of each other
we have been able to destroy or how many we have
been able to bring down. But they will ask us how
many plates of food have we put on the table of the
common man who elected us. So, I am here Mr.
President of the Senate to call for unity among us
and our party. And to sheath our sword in whatever
form anger has gotten to us.
“We noticed and we know that we are a party in
majority at the National Assembly and we are a party
with majority in the number of governors – state
houses of assembly – but we notice there is no
cordial relationship between the Governors, the
Executive and the legislature.
“And let me reemphasize that in all these arms of
government, it is only the legislature with the
executive that are the elected members. Not the
Judiciary. And Nigerians will hold us responsible as
the executive and legislative arms of government.
So, we must act quickly to ensure peace reigns
among us. I have discussed with the party – that
was my first point of call – to seek what we must
do to forge a way forward.
“The Governors recently met with the President all in
a bid to move this party forward and bring about
unity. Today, I am before you, the Senate President,
number three citizen of this country and I ask you to
use your wisdom to bring peace among our party.
We need to enjoy that very vibrancy for which the
National Assembly has been known for. We need to
enjoy those things that PDP used to enjoy when they
were a majority in the National Assembly.
“The APC government must see you as majority in
the National Assembly not minority in the house. My
Senate President, my Senate President, my Senate
President, to whom much is given, much is
expected and two wrongs can never make a right. It
takes one arm of a relationship to make good the
other. I liken my situation to what I see in my own
government that it is difficult to succeed as an
executive if you do not have the proper support of
the legislature.
“I will appeal that we make amends where possible
to ensure smooth running of the government of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. And we intend again, to
hold a meeting between the executive, the
legislature and the governors and the presidency as
soon as possible. I may suggest that His Excellency,
President Muhammadu Buhari, has also agreed to
address the leadership of our party very soon. But
before then, I think all the rough edges must be
smoothened.
“So we can truly tell the world that we are the
government in power – our government is in the
majority. Again, I want to thank you for the time
taken to receive me and pray that this very visit
would mark a new beginning in our relationship.
Thank you”, the Imo State Governor said.
In his response, the Senate President told the
Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum that he has
raised vital issues that the APC National Assembly
caucus would look into, while assuring the Governor
that the Senate will work in synergy to deliver the
dividends of democracy to Nigerians that voted the
APC into power.
Dr. Saraki admitted that the crisis in the party is
surmountable, saying nonetheless that the doors of
National Assembly is open to the party as he noted
that it remains a surprise that the leadership of the
APC has not deemed it fit in the last 16 months to
visit and meet with their members in the National
Assembly.
He maintained that with synergy between the party,
the executive and legislature, the interest of the
common man would be maintained.
The Senate President told the Chairman of APC
Governors’ Forum that the Senate is already working
to complement the executive arm in churning out
laws that will help turn around the economy.
Dr. Saraki who was joined by Senate leader, Ali
Ndume, Senators Dino Melaye, Rafiu Ibrahim, Hama
Isa Misau and Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi in receiving
Okorocha further said that the APC caucus in the
Senate is working with their colleagues in the other
parties to ensure that issues of security, economic
development and corruption are concentrated upon
executive arm of government, the National Assembly
and the party, Chairman of the All Progressive
Congress (APC) Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas
Okorocha of Imo state on Wednesday visited the
Senate President, Bukola Saraki where he preached
unity within the party.
Though, Governor Okorocha said that his visit to the
Senate was belated, nonetheless, “it is never late to
make amend where possible”.
Okorocha who told Saraki that he was visiting in his
capacity as the chairman of the APC Governors’
Forum, said, “This is the very first time I am coming
to your office and I am here because I am
concerned.
“I am here because I am a stakeholder. I am here as
the Chairman of the Progressives Governors’ Forum
– your friends and colleagues in the struggle. Mr.
Senate President, leaders of these great Senate, you
may recall a few years ago that we were all in the
trenches, in battle, asking for change in the Federal
Republic of Nigeria. I recall vividly the role most of
you played in that very struggle.
“We became a government when no one gave us a
chance to be so. And shortly, Nigerians believed in
us and entrusted us with the responsibility of
leading this nation. But one year and several months
after, we have not been able to manage this God-
given victory very well and it is very worrisome, Mr.
Senate President.
“That Nigerians expects so much from us but yet we
seem to be in crisis within ourselves. Not crisis
made by the opposition parties but crisis created by
ourselves for ourselves and which has kept us in
total difficult position that we are not making the
headway we need to make as a party.
“One wonders then what went wrong. Where did we
get it wrong? And after these troubles and after the
much hope we have given to Nigerians, we still
cannot work together as a party, as a family. And I
noticed particularly that there is so much bitterness
in the system – from the party, from the legislature,
from the executive, from the governors – and it
seems to me like there is no more platform for us to
chant those old songs which we used to sing in the
days of struggle for change. One wonders, was this
what we were asking for or was this the change we
were asking for. I think Nigerians expect so much
from us and at the end of it all.
“Nigerians will not ask us, how many of each other
we have been able to destroy or how many we have
been able to bring down. But they will ask us how
many plates of food have we put on the table of the
common man who elected us. So, I am here Mr.
President of the Senate to call for unity among us
and our party. And to sheath our sword in whatever
form anger has gotten to us.
“We noticed and we know that we are a party in
majority at the National Assembly and we are a party
with majority in the number of governors – state
houses of assembly – but we notice there is no
cordial relationship between the Governors, the
Executive and the legislature.
“And let me reemphasize that in all these arms of
government, it is only the legislature with the
executive that are the elected members. Not the
Judiciary. And Nigerians will hold us responsible as
the executive and legislative arms of government.
So, we must act quickly to ensure peace reigns
among us. I have discussed with the party – that
was my first point of call – to seek what we must
do to forge a way forward.
“The Governors recently met with the President all in
a bid to move this party forward and bring about
unity. Today, I am before you, the Senate President,
number three citizen of this country and I ask you to
use your wisdom to bring peace among our party.
We need to enjoy that very vibrancy for which the
National Assembly has been known for. We need to
enjoy those things that PDP used to enjoy when they
were a majority in the National Assembly.
“The APC government must see you as majority in
the National Assembly not minority in the house. My
Senate President, my Senate President, my Senate
President, to whom much is given, much is
expected and two wrongs can never make a right. It
takes one arm of a relationship to make good the
other. I liken my situation to what I see in my own
government that it is difficult to succeed as an
executive if you do not have the proper support of
the legislature.
“I will appeal that we make amends where possible
to ensure smooth running of the government of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria. And we intend again, to
hold a meeting between the executive, the
legislature and the governors and the presidency as
soon as possible. I may suggest that His Excellency,
President Muhammadu Buhari, has also agreed to
address the leadership of our party very soon. But
before then, I think all the rough edges must be
smoothened.
“So we can truly tell the world that we are the
government in power – our government is in the
majority. Again, I want to thank you for the time
taken to receive me and pray that this very visit
would mark a new beginning in our relationship.
Thank you”, the Imo State Governor said.
In his response, the Senate President told the
Chairman of APC Governors’ Forum that he has
raised vital issues that the APC National Assembly
caucus would look into, while assuring the Governor
that the Senate will work in synergy to deliver the
dividends of democracy to Nigerians that voted the
APC into power.
Dr. Saraki admitted that the crisis in the party is
surmountable, saying nonetheless that the doors of
National Assembly is open to the party as he noted
that it remains a surprise that the leadership of the
APC has not deemed it fit in the last 16 months to
visit and meet with their members in the National
Assembly.
He maintained that with synergy between the party,
the executive and legislature, the interest of the
common man would be maintained.
The Senate President told the Chairman of APC
Governors’ Forum that the Senate is already working
to complement the executive arm in churning out
laws that will help turn around the economy.
Dr. Saraki who was joined by Senate leader, Ali
Ndume, Senators Dino Melaye, Rafiu Ibrahim, Hama
Isa Misau and Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi in receiving
Okorocha further said that the APC caucus in the
Senate is working with their colleagues in the other
parties to ensure that issues of security, economic
development and corruption are concentrated upon
in the remaining tenure of the current Senate.
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