Lawan: Buhari couldn’t perform well in 4 years because of rift with Saraki-led assembly

Senate President Ahmad Lawan says President Muhammadu Buhari could not perform well between 2015 and 2019 because of the rift with the national assembly led by Bukola Saraki.

Saraki and Yakubu Dogara, former speaker of the house of representatives, defied the All Progressives Congress (APC) to emerge as leaders of the lower and upper legislative chambers.

The party had backed Lawan and Femi Gbajabiamila for the positions in the build-up to the 2015 polls.

Speaking at a youth conference in Abuja on Monday, Lawan said the APC lost four years that would have been used to convince Nigerians that they were right in voting out the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

“For four years [2015 to 2019], our government could not perform optimally because of the then crisis between the parliament – the national assembly – and the executive arm of government,” he said.

“So, APC had already lost four very important years. And, that was supposed to be the year that we should have convinced Nigerians that they took the right decision by voting out a PDP administration in 2015.

“What are our options? We are one party in different arms of government. Our policies are supposed to be the same. Our programmes and projects are supposed to be the same, whether you’re in the legislature or the executive.

“So long as you are APC, that is your programme and project, that is your government and you are bound to make it succeed.”

Lawan said the national assembly under him has taken a “conscious” decision of working in harmony with the executive.

“Otherwise, in 2023, many would like to see our backs if you can’t provide the services expected of you in your first four years,” he said.