Obi confident federal lawmakers will buy-in once Constitution is respected
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate Peter Obi has expressed confidence National Assembly (NASS) members will give him support if elected President, allaying fears of likely conspiracy by federal lawmakers to frustrate his agenda.
The LP has no elected lawmaker in the three tiers of government, except those who defect to it from other parties. Kaduna Deputy Speaker Isaac Zankai defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to LP on 12 January.
Obi allayed the fears in his presentation at Chatham House, London on Monday when a member of the audience via Zoom asked him how he intends to get the support of the legislature if the LP does not control the NASS.
Obi said he was in a similar situation as Anambra Governor when 30 members of the state Assembly were not from his party at the time, the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA).
“Quite frankly, I’ve been through this as a Governor. When I was elected and sworn in as a Governor I had 30 House members not from my party (APGA). In fact, nobody from my party was involved.”
_________________________________________________________________
Related articles:
BREAKING: Kaduna Deputy Speaker, another member dump APC for Labour Party
Nigerians won’t ‘japa’ if I am President, Obi pledges
Don’t vote looters, vote us money savers, Obi tells mammoth Onitsha crowd
__________________________________________________________________
Doing the right thing
He enthused getting the support of legislators not from the LP would not be a problem because he would pursue what is right, per The PUNCH.
“As long as you’re pursuing what is right, everybody will go with you .… The legislators want development and I am prepared to bring development to the nation.
“It becomes a problem when you’re pursuing transactional policies which will benefit you or you’re engaging in nepotism.”
Obi explained once the Constitution is respected and governance inclusive, with respect for diversity, there would be no need to worry about whether or not the legislature would work with the executive.