Opposition Parties Disunited Because They Lack Father Figure Like Buhari – Lawan

Senate President Ahmad Lawan on Thursday said opposition parties in Nigeria are “disunited” because they lack a father figure like President Muhammadu Buhari.

Lawan disclosed this to newsmen after the leadership of the National Assembly met with President Buhari ahead of the All Progressives Congress (APC) national convention.

While highlighting the need for party members to be united ahead of the exercise, Lawan explained that Buhari has been able to ensure that rifts within the party are properly mended.

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“I want to say that this meeting with Mr President has given us more energy. We believe that there is a father, at least in our party; there is a president who will ensure that once there are disagreements he is able to call everybody to order and ensure that the family continues to remain united and that is what we have been able to achieve over the years,” Lawan asserted.

“Well, I don’t want to be very partisan. But of course, when you have a father in the family and a mother, then you’re likely to have a stable family. And when you have only one or none in the family, you are not likely to be successful, the family is likely to be disunited, and that is what other political parties probably are facing.

“And I want to add here, finally, to say that we are committed to ensuring that this political party does not only have a successful convention but a very successful, peaceful, and safe electioneering campaign during 2022/2023 general campaigns and the general elections, by the grace of God.

“We’ll see Nigerians voting once again for APC because we have so far done so much in the areas that matter for the people of this country. But that is not to say that we are not facing some challenges we are, but we are squaring up to ensure that we deal with those challenges.”

The Senate President also stated that the party is committed to ensuring that the APC has a successful and peaceful convention and as such a ”Unity List’ of officers to be elected for the party is expected by Friday.

“We hope to achieve a consensus in selecting and electing the officers for the party, we are prepared to come up with a unity list,” he said.

Speaking further, Senator Lawan acknowledged that the country has challenges but that the APC and the 9th Assembly have done well, particularly with the passage of old and salient bills, cooperation with the opposition members in the PDP and APGA to ensure that issues of national interest remain the prime goal.