The pioneer National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Adebisi Akande has warned Senators-elect and House of Representatives elect on the platform of the party against joining any group to override their political party’s injunctions.
Delivering the keynote address on Wednesday at a two-day seminar for the newly elected APC’s State and National Legislators held in Osogbo, Osun State Capital, he declared that it was fraudulent for any of the lawmakers elected on the platform of the ruling APC to join or form any group to override the decision of their party.
Chief Akande, a former governor of Osun State, noted that the political party had right to control its government, adding that failure to do that risked losing its power and legitimacy to the opposition.
He said, “You are free not to join any political party. You are free to contest as an Independent candidate. It is fraudulent, however, for you to join and win elections on the platform of a political party and subsequently form another group to override your political parties’ injunctions.
“Your legacy, by so doing, will belong to those of the selfish leadership. Like most learners serve article-ship before qualifying as Accountants; like most lawyers serve tutelage before being professionally competent; so must a University lecturer seek mentor-ships before rising to professorship.
“You can never be a born political leader if you have not been properly mentored in party politics.”
The former APC boss noted that the political party was a training ground for any politician that want to be successful in the career.
He added that under the circumstance, each political party constantly streamlines, monitors and controls the activities of its governments and the party’s representatives in parliament by applying the instrumentality of a control system that was usually called ‘parliamentary whips’.
“In other words, the party is supposed to be the controller of its government. Otherwise, it’s power would be lost to the opposition,” he said.
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