The All Progressives Congress (APC) has blamed the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the rowdiness during President Muhammadu Buhari’s budget presentation at the National Assembly.
The party condemning the action, made this known in a statement by its publicity secretary, Lanre Issa-Onilu on Wednesday evening.
DAILY POST had reported that lawmakers booed the President as he highlighted some of the successes so far recorded by his administration.
The actions of the lawmaker made the President to remind the aggrieved lawmakers that, “The world is watching us and we are supposed to be above this.”
While some sang solidarity songs, other shouted ‘lies’ after every of Mr Buhari’s claims.
But, the ruling party blamed the PDP lawmakers, adding that their actions succeeded in eroding the ”remnant of the public’s respect, (if any) that the PDP has in the eyes of any respectable Nigerian”.
The statement read in part: “By law, respect for the office of the president or head of government in any clime is not a matter of choice but a civic obligation sanctioned by laws.
“Nigerians are not oblivious of the actions and inaction of the national assembly presiding officers, Senate President, Bukola Saraki and speaker, house of representatives, Yakubu Dogara while the president was being heckled by the PDP legislative caucus.
“Their failure to rein in their unruly PDP colleagues, while their show of shame lasted clearly confirmed that the PDP members’ action was premeditated and orchestrated to embarrass the President.
“When the APC was in opposition, Nigerians will recall statements by the PDP government that the immediate-past President Goodluck Jonathan did not personally present the national budget to the national assembly based on fears that he will be heckled and embarrassed by the opposition federal lawmakers at the time.
“The fears turned out to be misplaced as that never happened when Jonathan eventually presented the national budget. Such shameful and undignified practice has no place in our progressive ideology.
“The PDP lawmakers and their conniving leaders have a lot of questions to answer. First, we wonder why they cannot stomach the evident and verifiable achievements of the APC-led government in the areas of power, rail and road infrastructure, social intervention programmes as contained in the proposed budget.”
“The APC commends President Muhammadu Buhari for remaining calm and focused during the budget presentation despite the provocation from PDP lawmakers, an act of statesmanship that has been acknowledged by Nigerians. We are equally proud of the APC lawmakers, who stood firm in defence of the president and our great party during the budget presentation.
“We call on the National Assembly to rise above political and selfish interests by putting the country first in its consideration of the proposed N8.83 trillion 2019 national budget,” Issa-Onilu said.
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