Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna state, says Femi Gbajabiamila, majority leader of the house of representatives, is President Muhammadu Buhari’s choice for the speakership of the lower legislative chamber of the national assembly.
El-Rufai made this known while receiving elected members of the house of reps at government house, Kaduna, on Friday.
The governor said it is a misconception to say Bola Tinubu, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is the one paving the way for Gbajabiamila.
The majority leader, who represents Surulere federal constituency of Lagos, is an ally of Tinubu.
“It’s a misconception that Gbajabiamila is Asiwaju’s project. It was President Buhari himself that has always observed Femi in the house,” he said.
“Even before he became president, he read newspapers and watched television and he followed Gbajabiamila, his dedication and contributions on the floor and he said this time around I want Femi.
“I’m sure Asiwaju is happy but this is not his project, he is not the one that zeroed in on him. The president told me himself and when I asked him that I heard this story about Gbajabiamila and he told me his reasons.
“At governor’s forum, people raised voices but I told them that as governors, we sometimes impose, I am not a hypocrite. So I say to them, don’t let us condemn the president for picking people he feels comfortable working with.
“I don’t care who the president wants to work with but in my state, I am very interested. So, I told the president he has to be involved in this project and I said if he allows, me I’ll talk to people and get involved and I demand to get you involved too.”
