‘APC leader didn’t impose anyone on legislators,’ Senator says

monjola sotubo

June 17, 2015 10:19 AM

Tinubu had been accused of nominating Senator Ahmad Lawan and House of Representatives member, Femi Gbajabiamila to fill the positions of Senate President and Speaker respectively.

Bola Tinubu

Ondo State Senator, Ajayi Boroffice has said that the National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu did not impose any candidate for the National Assembly leadership on the legislator-members of the party.

Tinubu had been accused of nominating Senator Ahmed Lawan and House of Representatives member, Femi Gbajabiamila to fill the positions of Senate President and Speaker respectively.

Boroffice however said, while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, June 16, 2015, that Tinubu’s preferred candidate for the Senate Presidency was George Akume and not Lawan.

“Asiwaju Tinubu had already made up his mind to, in line with the normal global parliamentary practice, support Akume and Gbajabiamila but the story changed along the line when there were indications that the party leadership was favourably disposed to Lawan,” Boroffice said.

“Tinubu had not before then had any close political interaction with Lawan. It was a Senator, who is very close to the Presidency that actually took Lawan to Asiwaju in Lagos, in company with another prominent party leader. Tinubu categorically told the two gentlemen in the presence of Lawan that his choice was Akume and pledged to consult with other party leaders before he would give his final answer to their request to support Lawan,” he added.

“The campaign of calumny against Asiwaju was a grand conspiracy to tarnish Tinubu’s image because some people were no longer comfortable with his ever-growing influence and goodwill within the party, which he earned over the years as a result of his generosity and selfless service,” Boroffice said.

Despite the choice of Lawan and Gbajabiamila as sole candidates, Senator Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara defied the APC to contest and emerge Senate President and House of Reps Speaker respectively.

monjola sotubo