NEWS: Finally, Saraki, Dogara settle with Oyegun

(ABUJA)

National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chief John Odigie-Oyegun yesterday met with the Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki and Speaker House of Representatives Hon Yakubu Dogara over key issues regarding the two chambers.

Yesterday’s meeting which took place at Oyegun’s Abuja home was the APC Chairman’s first formal meeting with Saraki and Dogara since their election which was against the party’s directive.

The party had endorsed Senate Ahmed Lawan and Hon Femi Gbajabiamila for Senate President and House Speaker respectively.

Although some party officials were at the APC National secretariat waiting for the arrival of the Senate President and the Speaker, the parley which lasted for some hours instead took place at the private home of the National Chairman.

The meeting was attended by Sen. Lawan and other APC legislators .According to a source at the meeting, the parley focused on the need to work with the party in choosing principal officers for the two chambers.

But beyond that, the source disclosed that a truce was brokered between the party and the National Assembly leaders.

The source said “It is a private meeting and they were able to settle all the outstanding disputes relating to the sharing of principal positions at the national assembly.

“It all now appears that the APC senators and the federal house of representatives members will go to tomorrow’s (Tuesday) plenary sessions united”.

Oyegun’s meeting with with the Senate President ,bit was learnt was first held before that of Dogara.

Dogara attended the meeting with his deputy, Hon Lasun Suleiman.

Journalists were barred from the premises. Elaborating on the agenda of the meeting , the source said the meeting was called to straighten the strained relationship between the party and the leadership of the two chambers.

Oyegun had in a statement he personally signed assured Nigerians that the party was working hard to resolve the crisis that had rocked it in recent times, to pave the way for the fulfillment of its campaign promises to Nigerians.

”The party has reached out to all interested parties, and when the National assembly resumes next week, Nigerians will see one harmonious, happy APC family,” he had said.

”We owe it to our party, our teeming members and supporters and indeed all Nigerians who reposed so much confidence in us by voting us into office to quickly put the unfortunate incidents of the recent past behind us and forge ahead‎.”

Senate President, Saraki who was scheduled to meet with the APC leadership days after his election but the meeting was called off for reason not given.