The President of the Senate, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki has responded to reports credited to the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu claiming that he (Saraki) and some other left the party because they could not actualise their selfish personal interests.
In a statement personally signed by Saraki and made available to newsmen in Abuja and posted on his Facebook page and twitter handle, Saraki said that he would have refrained from joining issues with Tinubu but was compelled by the urge to set the record straight.
Saraki said that he respected Tinubu a lot but must make clear his decision to leave the APC, hence his response to Tinubu.
According to the Chairman of the National Assembly, he had frequently complained about how the National Assembly was not being carried along and treated with contempt on matters that would still need the approval of the law making body.
Saraki reminded the APC National Leader that he made it clear that the decision was ‘imposed on me by certain elements and forces within the APC who have ensured that the minimum conditions for peace, cooperation, inclusion and a general sense of belonging did not exist’.
He accused Tinubu of having not forgiven him for being part of the APC leaders that foisted a Muslim-Muslim ticket that was proposed in 2014.
Below is the full text of the statement by Saraki:
I have always restrained from joining issues in the media with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and this is based on my respect for him. However, I will not allow him to create a wrong, false and mischievous impression about the reasons for my decision to exit the All Progressives Congress (APC) and present his prejudice as facts for public consumption.
I have been consistent in my complaints to all leaders of the APC, including Tinubu, that a situation where the National Assembly is not constructively engaged or carried along in key policy decisions, particularly those that will eventually require legislative approval, is not in the best interest of the nation.