Lawmakers on the platform of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have reportedly resolved to endorse the President of the Nigerian Senate, Ahmad Lawan, for the 2023 Presidency.
Lawan who happens to be one of the longest-serving senators is seeking to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023.
However, while the ruling party is still busy organising its presidential primaries, at least sixty-seven Senators and one hundred and Seventy- eight members of the House of Representatives have agreed to throw their weight behind the aspiration of the Yobe State politician.
Reports on Vanguard quoted a source as saying the Lawmakers had concluded on their plans after Lawan was screened on Tuesday by the APC Presidential screening committee.
The lawmakers according to the report have prepared to declare their support for the Presidential aspirant soon against the backdrop that they have seen in him a Nigerian who is young, with wealth of experience, especially his period in the National Assembly from 1999 to date.
They believe the Senate President would be a President for all irrespective of class, religion, ethnicity and background.
“Considering the experience the President of the Senate has gathered overtime at the National Assembly, from a member of the House of Representatives to as a Senate leader and the President of the Senate, 67 Senators and 178 members of the House of Representatives across party lines have resolved to endorse him as the successor of President Muhammadu Buhari come 2023,” Vanguard quoted the source as saying.
Meanwhile, Lawan had on Tuesday after he was screened by the APC screening panel on Presidential aspirants chaired by former National Chairman of the party, Chief John Odigie- Oyegun, said “The screening was very successful. I was asked very fundamental questions about what our party stands for, about what I believe I can bring to the Presidency of Nigeria.”
Lawan who was addressing journalists outside the Transcorp Hilton Hotels, the venue of the screening on Tuesday said APC, the party under which he is contesting, stands for progress.
The Senate President’s statement reads further: “Our party stands for national stability. And what we have done in the last seven years as an administration, we have recorded so much successes across the country but we also have some challenges that we have to deal with.
“As someone who is aspiring to be a candidate for APC and by the Grace of God, the President of Nigeria in 2023, I have gone through the Mills. I have worked before I came to the National Assembly in 1999.
“In 1999, I came to the National Assembly and I am still in the National Assembly, having served eight years in the House of Representatives.
“I chaired two very important, strategic and critical committees of Agriculture and Education in the House and served as chairman Public Account Committee for eight years in the Senate, served as the Chairman of Defence Committee in the Senate, served as Senate Leader in the Senate and serving as the Presiding officer, the President of the Senate today.
“I have worked very closely with Mr President, President Muhammadu Buhari in my capacity as Senate Leader. In my capacity as President of the Senate.
“I know the issues of development. I know where we have recorded so much successes. I know where we need to rework, retool and re-kit our systems and strategies and operations.
“By the Grace of God, if I’m given the opportunity, Nigeria will experience improved education, improved security, improved economy.
“I want to reform the educational sector because I want to see an education sector that serve the sons and daughters of nobody so that we are able to take away from the street the 15million or so children out of school because I believe this has a link with not only education but security as well as economy.
“So I want to see a situation where I come out as the aspirant, become the candidate and of course go ahead to beat the PDP and other political parties to win the Presidency for APC and for Nigerians.”
