The current Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila is planning his return as the Speaker of the lower chambers in the incoming 10th National Assembly.
According to sources close to THEWILL, he is reportedly plotting to get at least one prominent position in the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government of national competence. He wants a second tenure as Speaker and in the event that doesn’t happen, he hopes to nab the influential position of Chief of Staff to Tinubu.
Although there are enough reasons why returning as Speaker may not be possible, what with Tinubu being from the South West while his vice, Senator Kashim Shettima is from the North East, leaving out the South South and South East as the two zones to be considered for the Speakership slot, sources say, the onus on who emerges Speaker lies on the president-elect who determines how and where the pendulum swings regardless of the template by which a Speaker should emerge.
If Tinubu believes Gbajabiamila is better suited as Speaker, Tinubu who is known to think outside the box, would ensure he gets the position. However, if that fails to happen and Tinubu sees that insisting on having his way could put things in jeopardy, then expectedly, Gbajabiamila would likely emerge his Chief of Staff.
There are several pointers why he would emerge as Cos. First, when national assembly members were being issued their Certificates of Return a few weeks ago, Gbajabiamila was conspicuously absent at the ceremony that many chose not to miss for anything. While others were jostling to be photographed while collecting their certificates, Gbajabiamila was in Lagos with Tinubu strategizing politically with him.
Also, while some elected and reelected lawmakers are lobbying for who gets what in the leadership of the House, Gbajabiamila is projecting the demeanour of being unperturbed, perhaps because he already knows what is in the offing.
Thirdly, Gbajabiamila is part of the minuscule entourage that accompanied Tinubu to both Saudi Arabia for Umrah (Lesser Hajj) and to France for a well-deserved rest after the hectic campaign season as well as to perfect his transition plan.
A video of Tinubu, Gbajabiamila and another unidentified person surfaced last week where the trio were taking a stroll on a cool evening. While critics may think nothing of this, perhaps they should wonder why Gbajabiamila accompanied him on this trip and not any of his other hangers on.
Besides, a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC has already justified why he thinks Gbajabiamila should be Tinubu’s CoS. Gbajabiamila was reelected to represent Surulere 1 federal constituency of Lagos State for a 6th consecutive term, making him one of the few oldest members of the national assembly, having spent 20 years in the lower chambers.
He was first elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 where he served as Minority Whip, Minority Leader, and Majority Leader before he was elected Speaker of the House in 2019.
