NASS Crisis: Gbajabiamila Opens Up
Femi Gbajabiamila, the Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, has revealed that President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of the All Progressive Congress (APC) insisted that he must vie for the leadership position in the House, otherwise he would have dropped out.
Addressing journalists at an interactive session in Abuja, today, Gbajabiamila said he would not describe the "loyalists in the House as aggressors but protectors of the interest of the party."
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He explained that a long time ago before the crisis heated up he had met with the President and the party explaining to them that issue had been framed to be about him which was not adding that he was willing to part with any position for the sake of the President, country and the House.
"A lot of people don't know this, long-time ago, I saw the president, I saw my party I explained to them I told the President I said listen this thing has been framed to be about me, was never about me and that is what my members believe and I told Mr. President and I told the party that I wanted to withdraw from this thing, so for the sake of the president, for the sake of the House for the sake of the country.
"I told the governors at the meeting 4 weeks ago it was not about office and I told them that I would leave this thing in a heart beat without thinking of it.
"I wouldn't even think twice about it and I will go and sit on the floor of the House without even accepting anything even a chairmanship.
"I have never been a chairman of the committee in this house and never been a deputy chairman and I made it clear to them that I have turned down things in the past, I have been offered National Honours and I turned it down, I was meant to be a Deputy to Aminu Tambuwal we turned it down before Emeka Ihedioha took over and there have been many other things in the past, "the house leader said.
He continued, "For me it was not about me, it was not about office, it's not the office that makes you a legislator, the legislator makes the office. It's not vice versa and I made it clear that I will leave it but on principle but my members refused.
"When I told the President to allow me leave, he did not accept it, he was reluctant my party did not accept it and I thank God for that they did have that kind of confidence in me to be able to deliver the goods for the party, who am I to say no?"
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Meanwhile, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, has assured the South east region that they will be adequately compensated in the leadership structure in the lower house.
Dogara was elected Speaker of the House of Reps on June 9 against the wishes of his party. He polled 182 votes to defeat Gbajabiamila, who had 174 votes.
Source: Legit.ng
