It is common in Nigeria for the ruling party and the incumbent President to have an interest in who becomes the leaders of the National Assembly.
Like what happened in 2015 when Bukola Saraki emerged the President of the Senate against the wish of the ruling party, the same thing had happened in 2011 when the then incumbent President, Goodluck Jonathan, and PDP wanted Mrs. Mulikat Adeola Akande as the Speaker of House of Representatives. Jonathan couldn’t achieve his aim after some power brokers from the South West ganged up against him and foiled his efforts which eventually made the current Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal to emerge as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Photo credit: Naija News
According to a report by Tribune Newspaper, former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande recently revealed in his biography how he worked with Tinubu to foil Jonathan’s efforts in 2011 to make Mrs. Mulikat Adeola Akande emerge the Speaker of House of Representatives.
Akande and Tinubu who were leaders of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria worked against Jonathan and foiled his efforts to ensure Mrs. Mulikat Adeola Akande emerged as the Speaker of House of Representatives in 2011 despite the former President’s efforts to lobby the then opposition leaders.
Chief Bisi Akande and Tinubu openly instructed elected members of the House of Representatives on the defunct ACN from South West to work against the choice of Jonathan and backed Tambuwal from North West which led to his victory as the Speaker of House of Representatives in 2011 against the choice of Jonathan.
Photo credit: Naija News
Why Did Akande And Tinubu Work Against the Choice Of Jonathan?
Chief Bisi Akande and Tinubu who played the role of opposition leaders then wanted their party to produce the Speaker of House of Representatives, when it was obvious that the game plan will not work, they worked against, Mulikat Adeola Akande, the choice of the then President, a PDP member from South West to support Tambuwal, a PDP member from North West.
Photo credit: Vanguard
It was pure politics and the then opposition leaders believed if they could not achieve their aim by making their party member Speaker of House of Representatives, then the choice of the then President will not win the position.
