The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended Senator Danjuma Goje for his decision to withdraw from the 9th Senate Presidency contest in support of the party’s endorsed candidate, Senator Ahmad Lawan.
The commendation is contained in a statement on Thursday in Abuja by Malam Lanre Issa-Onilu, the party’s National Publicity Secretary.
It also commended the fatherly role played by President Muhammadu Buhari in ensuring compliance with party decisions and directives.
According to the party, Goje has demonstrated himself as a reliable and committed party leader, good role model and elder statesman.
” We believe that Goje’s selfless actions typify APC’s progressive ideals and should be emulated by all party members to ensure unity, strength and supremacy of our great party.
“There is no doubt that the majority APC caucus is going into the incoming 9th National Assembly as a united house,” it said.
The party urged Nigerians to ignore reports against Femi Gbajabiamila, its candidate for the Speakership position of 9th House of Representatives, that he was convicted by a Court in the United States of America.
The APC said the report was sponsored, describing it as “phantom and infantile allegations”,noting that it had become a reoccurring fabrication.
It recalled that the same baseless allegations were made against Gbajabiamila in the lead up to the 8th National Assembly speakership race but came to naught.
The party emphasised that Gbajabiamila had never been convicted for any crime in Nigeria and abroad.
“We urge Gbajabiamila and his vibrant campaign team to remain focused on their extensive county-wide consultation and engagements which has been well-received and endorsed across party lines.
“Ahead of the June 11 inauguration of the 9th National Assembly, we urge all APC federal lawmakers to rally around the candidatures of Sen. Ahmad Lawan, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila and all our candidates for the respective principal positions,” it said.
Also, former Abia State Governor and Senator-elect, Abia North Senatorial District, Dr. Orji Kalu, commended Goje for dropping his senate presidency ambition after a meeting with Buhari.
Goje, who has declared his support for Senator Ahmed Lawan, was applauded by Kalu for his patriotic and matured decision in the interest of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Nigeria at large.
According to the Senator-elect, the President’s intervention is timely, appropriate and highly commendable.
Speaking with a cross-section of APC supporters in Lagos on Thursday, Kalu, who is contesting for the position of Deputy Senate President, stressed that the coast is clear for Lawan and he (Kalu) to emerge as Senate President and Deputy Senate President respectively.
He said: “I salute President Muhammad Buhari for meeting with the trio of Governor Ahmed El-Rufai, Senator Ahmed Lawan and Senator Danjuma Goje in the interest of the APC and Nigeria at large.
“The decision of Senator Goje to drop his senate presidency ambition in order to support Senator Lawan is a welcome development.
” I am optimistic that Senator Lawan and myself have the capacity to steer the affairs of the red chamber”
Kalu, while urging the President to wade into the cold war between the National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, and his predecessor, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, called on the members of the soon-to-be inaugurated 9th National Assembly to place national interest above selfish ambitions.
