Acrimony arising from the initial rejection of the election of Senator Bukola Saraki as Senate President by All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday, deepened among his countrymen in Kwara State.

Kwara Concerned Citizens, in a statement yesterday rose up in defence of the role of Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the National Publicity Secretary of the party, in the issuance of the statement by the party, rejecting the election of Saraki as Senate President, saying agitation to single him out for reprimand in Kwara State over his official party role was untenable.

A statement issued on behalf of the collective by Dr. Hezekiah Oyedepo and Engr Umoru Sha’aba Lafiaji, the Wakilin of Lafiaji, expressed shock that Mohammed could be vilified by any one for ably discharging his duties as the party’s spokesman in disseminating the views of the party.

Lai Mohammed

It said: “We are astonished that for carrying out his duties diligently, as he has always done, by articulating the position of his party, Lai Mohammed has become a target of attacks and threats from some perfidious persons in his home state.

“In order to put the issue in the proper perspective, we members of Kwara Concerned Citizens have, therefore, decided to set the record straight by saying the opinion of that self-serving group does not reflect that of the majority of the good people of Kwara, while also acknowledging the courage, loyalty, decency and professionalism of Lai Mohammed in carrying out his duties as the voice of APC.

“In the first instance, the opinions expressed by Lai Mohammed in his statements are not his own, but that of his party.

“Secondly, since he articulates the position of his party at many levels, including intra- and inter-party, national as well as international, he is expected, at all times, to put the interest of the party above his own personal interest.

“We make bold to say that, to our pride as his kinsmen and indeed to wide acclamation across the land, he has performed his duties creditably.

“It is, therefore, unfair, illogical and downright simplistic to conclude that Lai Mohammed’s statement conveying the immediate reaction of his party to the elections in the National Assembly means he is opposed to the election of his kinsman, Dr. Bukola Saraki, as the President of the Senate.

“What was he expected to do in the circumstances? Refuse to carry out his duty as APC’s spokesman just because of the involvement of his kinsman in the Senate leadership election?

“Infuse his own feelings and opinion into his party’s statement so that he will not be seen as opposing his kinsman? Or issue his own statement reflecting his personal opinion, as against that of his party?”