A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress,  Alhaji Kawu Baraje, on Tuesday, described as unfortunate, a statement by former interim National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, which alleged that the principal officers of the National Assembly enjoy the backing of some business interests and anti-Buhari elements.

Baraje, in a statement in Abuja, said he was disappointed that Akande who had led the party and served as a state Governor authored a statement in which he was seeking to divide the nation by setting the North against the South West.

The APC leader,  who once served as the national chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party however, noted that  he had a lot of respect for Akande.

He nevertheless expressed disappointed that the former interim chairman of the APC would be championing a claim which he could not substantiate.

Baraje said, “I do not know where Chief Akande and his cohorts are getting this unsubstantiated information they are circulating. We challenge them to provide proof and let Nigerians make their judgment.

“Akande and co believe that they have exclusive right to determine who occupies what position in today’s Nigeria and whoever tries to challenge their position must be subjected to savage attack in the media. That tactic is definitely undemocratic.

“I have known Chief Akande to be an honest man. I got the shock of my life when he alleged that I had a meeting in my house with ‘some old and new PDP members with a view to hijacking the National Assembly’ through the aspiration of Dr. Bukola Saraki as the Senate President.

“I have been quiet as a leader so as to not to be seen as taking sides because of my closeness to Dr. Saraki, else people will read meaning into it.

“Akande has been playing a role which I admire. He will recall that he  met some actors, with a Governor from the NorthWest and a leader of the party from the SouthWest, where the leader from the SouthWest was cautioned to be reasonable in this crisis.”

He said the forum also admonished the Southwest leader to allow justice, fair play and equity to take place.

Baraje said, “He (Akande) supported the view of the governor  from the North-west that the particular leader from the South-west should be admonished for his action. It is therefore surprising that Akande is now being economical with the truth and painting a picture that exists only in his imagination.

“My worry has been that President Buhari is being fed with lies and stories that are dangerous to the polity. My fears have now been confirmed with Akande’s statement.

“It is my prayer that the  President should strengthen his information gathering network, so as to have a clear and true picture of what is happening.

“I am also appealing to Chief Akande and his cohorts to demonstrate more commitment to our party by exposing the President to the truth that would assist him in taking good decisions. I hope that this appeal will be heeded.

“I am still keeping quiet with the hope that our efforts in reconciliation will come to a fruitful end.

“I am happy to state that the former Governor of Kwara State enjoys the support of the critical constituencies that he needs to be President of the Senate, particularly that of the good people of Nigeria.”

Baraje said the story by Akande that a purported meeting took place in his house after the general elections where a so-called new PDP group plotted “with a view to hijacking the National Assembly, with an ultimate aim of resuscitating  the PDP as their future political platform” was a mere fabrication.