Tinubu Flexes His Political Muscles, Hand-Picks Allies

Tinubu Flexes His Political Muscles, Hand-Picks Allies

 The zoning arrangement in the All Progressives Congress (APC) has pitched party chieftains against each other as former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinub has reportedly hijacked most of the positions. 

According to Nigeria Pilot, Tinubu has positioned his men to takeover available positions zoned to the regions. APC zoned the Senate Presidency to the North-Central, Speakership to the South-West, Tinubu’s region, which also produced the Vice President, the Secretary to Government of the Federation, SGF to the South-East and the Senate Majority Leader to the South-West.

READ ALSO: Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Nigeria’s Enigmatic Political Legend

Tinubu has reportedly lined up three strong contenders to take over the leadership of the 8th National Assembly. He is alleged to be backing Senator George Akume, former Benue State Governor and long time political ally from the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN to be the Senate President. Akume is the current minority leader of the Senate.

"Jagaban" as Tinubu is fondly called,  is also said to be backing Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, his political protégé to take over as the Speaker of the House of Representatives, while at the same time positioning his wife, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, to be the Senate Majority Leader.

Tinubu’s argument, it was gathered, is that if Saraki is allowed to be Senate President, and Hon. Gbajabiamila becomes the Speaker, it would open the party to criticisms given the fact that the President-elect is a Muslim and both Saraki and Gbajabiamila are also Muslims.

If Tinubu succeeds in his plot,  he would have been responsible for three of the four most powerful positions in Nigeria. He single-handedly nominated Vice-President-elect, Professor Yemi Osinbanjo.

READ ALSO: Dangote Celebrates With Tinubu And Ambode

Meanwhile, Africa’s richest man, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has listed three major challenges facing Nigeria’s economy that the President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari needs to tackle.

Source: Legit.ng

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