I Harbour No Ill-feeling Against You, Buhari Tells Defecting Lawmakers

President Muhammadu Buhari has reacted to the defection of federal lawmakers from his party, the All Progressives Congress.

The President, in a statement on his official Twitter handle, said the leadership of the party did its best to stop the defecting lawmakers from dumping the party.

Recall that a total of 52 federal lawmakers from both the Senate and House of Representatives defected from the APC on Tuesday, with about 95 percent defecting to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

The defecting lawmakers cited division at all levels of the APC as the reason for their defection.

But in his reaction, Mr Buhari, who wished the defectors the very best in their future undertakings, expressed his readiness to work with all members of the National Assembly “irrespective of their political party”.

I wish all of our party members who today defected, the very best in their future undertakings. The APC has done its best to stop the defections, and I must commend the party leadership for working tirelessly to unite the party and position it for future victory.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) July 24, 2018

I am confident that no harm or injury will be done by these defections, to the APC and its aspirations. I urge party faithful to not despair, but to instead see this as something that happens in seasons like this, on the eve of elections.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) July 24, 2018

As the saying goes, all politics is local. We understand that some of the Distinguished and Honourable lawmakers have issues in/with their home states, especially on zoning which bars some of them from seeking another term in their constituencies.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) July 24, 2018

Let me also note that none of the defecting federal lawmakers has any specific grievances against me or the government I lead; neither do I harbour any ill-feeling towards any of them. I fully respect their freedom to choose what party to associate with.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) July 24, 2018

I am using this opportunity to restate my total commitment to the values of democracy, as well as my total willingness to work with ALL members of the National Assembly, irrespective of their political party, for the benefit of Nigeria and Nigerians.

— Muhammadu Buhari (@MBuhari) July 24, 2018