Senator representing Ondo North Senatorial District, Robert Boroffice, has shed light on the part played by National leader of the All Progressives Congress, Bola Tinubu, in the leadership brouhaha of the National Assembly.

Some of the APC lawmakers, who are supporters of Senate President, Bukola Saraki, and Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, believe that Lawan and Gbajabiamila were picked by the former governor of Lagos State to satisfy his selfish ambition.

However, Boroffice says that Tinubu did not impose Senator Ahmad Lawan and Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as consensus candidates of the party for the leadership positions.

In an interview with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, June 16, the Senator stated that Tinubu’s initial preference were Senator George Akume and Gbajabiamila.

He said the pair were to be presented as the party’s choice for the post of Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives respectively.

Boroffice said Tinubu’s argument was that Akume and Gbajabiamila, who were minority leaders in the 7th Senate and House of Representatives, should automatically assume the leadership of both chambers as Senate President and Speaker respectively.

“Asiwaju Tinubu had already made up his mind to, in line with the normal, global parliamentary practice,  support Akume and Gbajabiamila but the story changed along the line, when there were indications that the party leadership was favourably disposed to Lawan.

“Tinubu did not before then, have any close political interactions with Lawan. It was a senator, who is very close to the presidency that actually took Lawan to Asiwaju in Lagos, in company with another prominent party leader.

“Tinubu,  categorically told the two gentlemen in the presence of Lawan that his choice was Akume and pledged to consult with other party leaders before he would give his final answer to their request to support Lawan.

“I was in the know of all the process that led to the emergence of Lawan and Gbajabiamila as consensus candidates. Tinubu played the role because of his loyalty to the party. I was among the four people that he sent to beg Akume, since he had already promised to support him.

“The campaign of calumny against Asiwaju was a grand conspiracy to tarnish Tinubu’s image because some people were no longer comfortable with his ever growing influence and goodwill within the party, which he earned over the years as a result of his generosity and selfless service.”