By Shola Abayomi.
The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Adams Oshiomhole has hinted that the party has no excuse not to deliver, as its loyal party men emerged leaders of the National Assembly.
Addressing journalists in Abuja yesterday, Oshiomhole pointed out that the previous leaders of the parliament did not believe in the party’s “Change” agenda, which necessitated a new wave of leaders as reflected in yesterday’s NASS election which saw the emergence of Senator Ahmed Lawan and Hon Femi Gbajamiabila as Senate President and Speaker respectively.
Oshiomhole said, “We cannot say that we are being blocked by the parliament. The parliament is ours and those who don’t believe in ‘Change’ cannot be entrusted with the challenge of managing the ‘Change.’ That is why I said we must give the position of responsibility to those who believe in our ‘Change’ agenda.
“So, today, that has been translated. You can just imagine how I feel; like a mother, we are on the verge of delivering twins in the two chambers of the National Assembly.
“For me it is our finest hour, particularly when you bear in mind what happened in 2015. It is the mischief of 2015 that we have tried to correct, and I am happy that it has been settled.
“For those who thought something was wrong with the APC, I think the outcome of the Senate election will humble them, not just for the victory but for the size of the defeat.
“They insisted on the secret ballot which is not good enough because in parliament the constituents must know how their representatives are voting. That will be the basis of supporting them in the future. But if the vote is secret, it means that they are not accountable.
“But they insisted that it must be a secret ballot. It is okay. We have worked hard to let our people recognise that Nigerians, with their eyes open, gave the APC the executive; they also gave us the overwhelming majority in the two arms of the National Assembly. I think that in doing that, they expect that this time around APC would have no excuse not to deliver”, he stated.