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The gale of defection of Federal lawmakers from the ruling All Progressives
Congress (APC) to the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Tuesday
July 24, 2018 has received fresh knock from a legislator representing Kurfi
and Dutsinma Federal Constituency in Katsina State, Hon. Danlami Mohammed
Kurfi.
Kurfi who is the deputy Chairman House of Representatives Committee on
Petroleum Resources Downstream stated that the defection cannot in any way
hinder President Muhammadu Buhari’s bid for re-election in 2019, contrary
to the thinking of those he called political prostitutes and ingrates.
In a chat with some National Assembly correspondents on Wednesday, the
Katsina born parliamentarian made a call to all Nigerians especially those
that are interested in progressive and people-oriented governance to keep
faith in President Mohammadu Buhari APC-led government and that they will
never be disappointed with a man with sincerity to right the wrongs done to
the helpless and hapless masses.
He said, ‘‘it is really appalling and highly shameful that those who
immensely benefited from our platform and having risen to become
parliamentarians in both chambers of the House of Representatives and the
Senate could dump the party for reasons that are not legally or morally
tenable is unfortunate. I simply see them as political prostitutes and
ingrates, regrettably for them; they are paper-weight politicians who lack
electoral value.
A lot of them won election in 2015 because of President Buhari’s electoral
influence and credibility that is the truth. I am extremely confident that
in 2019 APC will emerge victorious, there is no controversy about Buhari
wining the presidential election and same goes to our Governor in Katsina
State, His Excellency, Aminu Bello Masari, he will also win because of his
outstanding performance ’’ He stated.
Hon. Kurfi further disclosed that such betrayal and lack of patriotism to
national development is expected when the fight against corruption by
Buhari became so rife, loud and forceful.
In his word, ‘‘Every right thinking Nigerians should not be surprised at
what played out last Tuesday, of course our people say when you can’t stand
the heat, you dare not stay in the kitchen where cooking takes place, that
is what can best describe the Tuesday scenario at the two hallowed
chambers, it was indeed a show of shame and a mockery of our cherished
democracy. Please take note when you fight corruption it will definitely
fight back, Nigerians can now see clearly the faces of those standing as
impediment to the country’s wheel of progress’’
The lawmaker stressed further, ‘‘I must commend the Majority Leaders of the
two chambers and our party’s national leaders for their firmness and the
stand they took when this despicable cross carpeting of some of our
colleagues took place. Meanwhile those applauding these decampees are
simply glorifying illegality, the defections clearly failed the test in
Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). The truth is that
there are conditions that have to be met before defection can be valid. May
be they don’t know, it was wrong for the defectors to rely on the reformed
All Progressive Congress (rAPC), this is a group that is not recognized by
law or registered by INEC. They have committed political suicide, infact
they have automatically lost their seats, the Supreme Court is very clear
on this.’’ Kurfi said.