SPEAKER of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has debunked rumours that he is lobbying to become Chief of Staff to the President-Elect, Bola Tinubu.
Gbajabiamila was absent when the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued certificates of return to newly elected members of the National Assembly at the International Conference Centre (ICC) in Abuja.
The Speaker’s absence raised speculations that he was more interested in the chief of staff position when Tinubu is sworn in by May 29, 2023.
However, speaking with journalists in Abuja on Monday, March 13 Gbajabiamila dismissed the speculations.
He said “I don’t know anything about that Chief of Staff thing.
“All I heard was that I didn’t come here last week to pick up my certificate and for that reason, somebody conjectured that must be about something about Chief of Staff.
“I was in Lagos and I could not leave Lagos because I was campaigning for my party. That’s number one.
“Again, it will interest you to know that I was not here four years ago to pick up my certificate because I couldn’t make it. I don’t think it is anything significant. I’ll pick up my certificate today or tomorrow.”
Sinafi Omanga is a multimedia journalist and researcher with the International Centre for Investigative Reporting. He has a keen interest in humanitarian reporting, social justice, and environment.
Twitter handle:
@OmangaSinafi
Email:
somanga@icirnigeria.org