By Dipo Awojobi – Lawmakers in the Lagos State House of Assembly have thrown their weights behind the embattled National Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bola Tinubu, saying that the ex-Lagos governor’s political power and influence could never be reduced by anybody.
The lawmakers made this position known following a move made by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information and Strategy, Hon. Tunde Braimoh, who led his colleagues to pledge support for Tinubu in the wake of a recent face-off he had with the National Chairman of the party, Chief John Oyegun.
Speaking under “Matter of Public Urgency,” session, during Tuesday’s plenary, Braimoh and others wondered why the presidency is ‘silent’ over the development, especially given the “years of sacrifice and financial commitments” Tinubu had made for the emergence of APC in Nigeria’s political landscape and the nation’s democracy as a whole.
Braimoh and other lawmakers also pointed out that an insult to the personality of Tinubu was synonymous with an insult to the entire Yoruba race, especially given the leadership role he (Tinubu) played in the unification of the Yoruba nation.
“The entire situation does not show a good sign for the internal democracy of our great party, and efforts must be put in place by all stakeholders to arrive at a quick resolution.
“Therefore, to achieve this, we call on the leadership of APC to call the party’s executive to order with a view to ensuing that adequate respect and honour is given to the leaders of the party, including Asiwaju Tinubu,” he said.
The move was supported by many members of the House, including some of the principal officers such as the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Sanni-Eshilokun; Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, and Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh, who unanimously remarked that the “ongoing fight is not just against Tinubu, but against vision and posterity,” while also adding that “Asiwaju Tinubu is too big a personality anybody could toy with.”
In his submission, the Speaker of the Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who equally threw his weight behind the call, argued that rather than being seen as sympathetic to the whole development, President Muhammadu Buhari should play the role of a father who will truly unite everybody in the party.
“The signal coming from the presidency is not good enough. Appointments had been made without Tinubu’s knowledge, and major decisions had been taken without adequate consideration for his view and opinion. We believe this is not good enough and it is a sign of disrespect for the personality of Tinubu, whose contributions to the consumation of APC in Nigeria can never be brushed aside,” Obasa said.
