The House Leader of the 8th House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila has revealed that he had opted to withdraw from the Speakership race but was encouraged by President Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress to fight for the seat.
He further stated that he never wanted to put first his ambition ahead of the unity of the legislature and Nigeria at large.
“A lot of people don’t know this. Long time ago, I saw the President, I saw my party, I explained to them. I told the President, I said listen. ‘This thing has been framed to be about me”, he told newsmen in his office on Friday.
“It was never about me and that is what my members believe and I told Mr. President and the party that I wanted to withdraw from this thing, for the sake of the President, for the sake of the House, for the sake of the country.
“I told the governors at the meeting four weeks ago that I have never been a member for the sake of occupying office. It was not about office and I told them that I would leave this thing in a heartbeat without thinking of it.
“I wouldn’t even think twice about it and I will go and sit on the floor of the House without even accepting anything even a Committee chairmanship.
“I have never been a chairman of a committee in this House and have never been a Deputy Chairman and I made it clear to them that I have turned down things in the past.
“I have been offered National Honours and I turned it down, I was meant to be a Deputy to Aminu Tambuwal, we turned it down before Emeka Ihedioha took over and there have been many other things in the past”.