Tinubu Never Wanted Lawan As Senate President – Boroffice

Senator Robert Boroffice, yesterday said that the National leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Asiwaju Bola Tinubu never imposed Senator Ahmed Lawan and Honourable Femi Gbajabiamila on the party.

The two APC members had emerged as the party’s preferred candidates for the National Assembly leadership seats but President of the Senate, Senator Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Honourable Yakubu Dogara, emerged after running for the seats despite their party’s position.

For many, the APC candidates were imposed by influential party leader, Tinubu. However, speaking with Journalists yesterday in Abuja, Boroffice, who represents Ondo North Senatorial District explained that the former Lagos State governor had wanted Senator George Akume and Gbajabiamila as the party’s choice for the position of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

“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.

“Tinubu did not before then, had any close political interactions 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.

“I was in the known of all the process that led to the emergence of Lawan and Gbajabiamila as concensus candidates. Tinubu played the role because of his loyalty to the party. I was among the four people that he sent to beg Akume since he had already promised to support him.

“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.