The ambition of Senator Oluremi Tinubu, wife of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to become the Deputy Senate President in the 9th Assembly may not materialise soon, Igbere TV reports.
This was as her husband, Tinubu is said to be opposed to the move, citing “clash of interest.”
Igbere TV had previously reported that Mrs Tinubu, during an interactive session with newsmen in her Lagos residence, said she would love to become the Deputy Senate President some day.
Igbere TV reports that the lawmaker representing Lagos Central in the upper legislative chamber, said she was certain women can aspire to become anything in life politically.
“One thing is this, a woman can aspire to become anything. Somebody asked if I would like to run for governorship, someday, and I replied yes.
“We’ve been governor before, when my husband was governor, I also was the first lady of the state, so, this is my third term as a senator. So, who said I cannot aspire to become Senate president?
“I don’t want to be Senate President but I have always wanted to become the Deputy Senate President because I have a lot of responsibility that I want to carry out,” Mrs Tinubu said.
However, findings by Igbere TV showed that Mr. Tinubu is more interested in Lagos State producing the next Speaker of the House of Representatives, a position Femi Gbajabiamila, the incumbent Majority Leader of the House, is seriously eyeing.
A source close to the former governor said it was impossible for Lagos State to produce both the Deputy Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives in the same dispensation.
Igbere TV recalls that Tinubu’s efforts to ensure Gbajabiamila emerges the Speaker of the current 8th Assembly hit a brick wall when the lawmakers, with the support of their colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party (APC), elected Yakubu Dogara, the incumbent speaker, to lead them.
Speaking on the development, an elected member of the House of Representatives who did not want to be named, said Tinubu was leaving no stone unturned in ensuring that what happened in June 2015 when the National Assembly elected their leaders did not repeat itself.
“Yes, the desire of Senator Oluremi Tinubu for the Deputy Senate President position is real, given her experience as a ranking female lawmaker, but it is also clashing with the desire of her husband to ensure Lagos State produces the speaker of the House of Representatives.
“It is likely that the APC will zone the speakership position to the South-West as they did in 2015, and our preferred candidate is Femi Gbajabiamila, the current Majority Leader.
“Asiwaju (Tinubu) is not really keen about his wife becoming the Deputy Senate President as this may jeopardise his desire to have Gbajabiamila occupy the position of speaker.”
Another party chieftain also said Tinubu had not discussed the issue of Senator Oluremi’s ambition with them, adding that “it is not feasible”.
“He is more interested in Lagos producing the speaker. As it stands, Remi Tinubu’s ambition to become Deputy Senate President is not feasible,” the party chieftain said.
Meanwhile, Igbere TV has learnt that the APC national leader is making move to support the South East to produce the next Senate President.
It was gathered that Tinubu is already consulting with the party leaders and top presidency officials for that purpose.
This comes on the heels of renewed calls for the zoning of the Senate President position to the South East.
Igbere TV reports that prominent personalities and interest groups across the six geo-political zones, have been drumming support for the former Governor of Abia, Orji Kalu for the Senate President position.
Our source told Igbere TV that the former Lagos governor is likely to support his ally, Senator-elect of Abia North district, Dr. Orji Uzor Kalu, for the position.
Igbere TV recalls that, after the formation of the APC which was facilitated by Tinubu, the party had reportedly zoned the Senate Presidency to the South East but the zone missed the chance due to their inability to produce a Senator under the party. But with the election of 3 APC Senators in the last National Assembly election, the party is said to be taking steps to correct the perceived inbalance in the distribution of key offices in the Buhari-led administration.
“Yes, Asiwaju (Tinubu) is likely to support the South East for the nation’s number three position. He has been consulting lately. Leaders have reached out to him, at the appropriate time, he will make his interest known,” an insider privy to the move told Igbere TV on Wednesday.
