The recently appointed Majority Leader of the Federal House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has revealed how President Buhari and his party, the All Progressives Congress, discouraged him from ditching his ambition to clinch a principal position in the House.

During an interactive session with journalists on Friday, July 31, Gbajabiamila, disclosed that he had the opportunity to be Deputy Speaker of the 7th Assembly, but he turned down the offer.

Speaking of the crisis that had engulfed the House since June 9, he said: “It was not about me; it was not about office. It’s not the office that makes you a legislator, the legislator makes the office.”

“I have been offered national honours and I turned it down. I was meant to be a deputy to Aminu Tambuwal but we turned it down before Emeka Ihedioha took over and there have been many other things in the past.”

“A lot of people don’t know this. A long time ago, I saw the president, I saw my party, I explained to them. I told the president this thing has been framed to be about me, but was never about me and that is what my members believe and I told the party that I wanted to withdraw from this thing, so 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 it was not about office and 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 chairmanship.”

“When I told the president to allow me leave, he did not accept it, he was reluctant. My party did not accept it. And I thank God for that they did have that kind of confidence in me to be able to deliver the goods for the party. Who am I to say no?”

Kolapo Olapoju