LAGOS JANUARY 8TH (URHOBOTODAY)-The anticipated defection of aggrieved Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) senators to All Progressives Congress (APC) as a follow up to the defection of 37 PDP lawmakers in the House of Representatives in December last year to APC, went beyond the realm of speculation yesterday with its confirmation by Senator Ita Enang.
Enang who chairs the Senate Committee on Rules and Business, made the disclosure in an interview with journalists on the legislative agenda of the Senate upon resumption next week.
Although the senator refused to confirm whether or not a written request to that effect has been forwarded to the Senate by the APC-bound senators from PDP, he said: “The issue of defection is a matter being anticipated in the Senate and I would not want to make further comments on such issues.”
He, however, described his colleagues as “responsible senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who are always interested in the unity and progress of the country.”
He noted that the senators usually consider the interest of the country first before thinking of their various political affiliations.
“The senators of the Federal Republic of Nigeria see themselves as one and what is paramount in their minds is how to move the nation forward. We will all work together as a single body to address all issues for consideration dispassionately, meaning that defection or no defection, legislative business will not be affected in the Senate upon resumption next week,” Enang said.
Enang also declined comments on the alleged automatic tickets said to be sought by some of the aggrieved senators in order to sheath their sword.
He said the senators will, on resumption next week, start the consideration of the 2014 Budget so that the document could be worked upon on time and passed.
He explained that since the lifespan of the 2013 Budget expired on 31 December last year, the National Assembly has the responsibility to ensure that the financial document was available for the executive to implement as soon as possible.