Damishi Barau said the APC’s position was harsh on Nigerians.

The Nasarawa State Deputy Governor, Damishi Barau has dared his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, saying he stands on his earlier position criticising the party’s stance.

Mr. Barau had criticised the APC when the party asked its federal lawmakers to frustrate executive bills until the political crisis in Rivers State is resolved. He was subsequently suspended by the APC, in an announcement by its Nasarawa State chairman, Stanley Buba.

The deputy governor, who returned from United States in the early hours of Sunday and refused to make comments on his suspension, said he has a right like any other Nigerian to voice his opinion.

He said he stands by his position that the APC’s statement was harsh on Nigerians.

“I made a statement as a Nigerian not as deputy governor,” Mr. Barau said. “We should be able to differentiate between party interest and National interest because it is not all Nigerians that belong to political parties.”

The deputy governor, who is alleged to be making moves to dump the APC for Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, said the APC should have considered the plight of those who are not politicians before taking such position.

“It is not fair to stop governance to solve political issues, this is my position. I want to stand by it and insist on it as a Nigerian,” he said.

Mr. Barau, and the Nasarawa State governor, Tanko Al-Makura, are currently members of the APC, while the state assembly is dominated by the PDP.