CSCGG wants Saraki, Dogara punished

Okunade Adekunle |

A group, Civil Society Coliation for Good Governance (CSCGG), has called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress(APC) to invoke its disciplinary processes against any party member who conducts himself or herself in any manner that violates party discipline or undermines the collective interest of the party.

The group stressed that the mischievous gang up between the new leaders of the national assembly and the defeated PDP should warn the leaders of the APC that the unfinished task of neutralising the PDP with its nauseous effects on the Nigerian polity for the past 16 years needs their attention.

CSCGG said this in a statement issued and co-signed by its Deputy Conveners, Declan Ihekaire and Mohammed Kudu, stating that the controversial circumstances leading to the emergence of Sen. Bukola Saraki as Senate President and Hon. Yakubu Dogara as Speaker of the House of Representatives haveto created bad blood within the ruling party and constitute a clog on the wheels of democratic progress.

“While we grant politicians their rights to pursue their political aspirations, we also believe  strongly that party men and women should always subject themselves to party discipline so as to allow for cohesion and smooth operations and implementation of party programs”, said the group

“It is our position that since the party was the vehicle through which individuals won elections into offices, and as long as there is so far, no provision for independent candidacy, all party members must subject themselves to party discipline.  We call on the APC to henceforth invoke its disciplinary processes against any party member who conducts himself or herself in any manner that violates party discipline or undermines the collective interest of the party”, said the group

The group explained “The manner in which Saraki and Dogara betrayed the party by aligning with the opposition that decimated Nigeria for 16 years, to emerge as Senate President and Speaker of the HR, respectively, is morally reprehensible. They undermined party loyalty, discipline and cohesion and left no one in doubt that they put their personal ambitions above the party will and the national interest”

“The crisis generated by the controversial election of Saraki and Dogara are partly responsible for the slow pace of affairs in the newly elected government led by Buhari. It is apparent that the delay in sending the list of Ministerial nominees to the national assembly for confirmation is partly due to this crisis which, no doubt destabilised the ruling party machinery”, said the group

“We must remind all party members that it was the party’s manifesto and program of change that endeared Nigerians to it and earned it the massive votes of Nigerians who had been yearning for change”

 “We call on all organs and members of the party to join hands with the party leadership and work assiduously to ensure that the differences among its members are quickly resolved in the overall interest of the party and the progress and development of the nation”, said the group