The 2023 presidential election is exactly 13 months away but the polity is astir as if the election will be held in a matter of weeks.
As
many politicians have identified their interest but yet to declare their
intentions, indications are that the serving speaker of the house of
representative, Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila may return to Lagos to contest as
the governor in 2023.
Although
the speaker had stated in a recent interview with Channels Television that
gubernatorial aspiration is not in his “immediate plan”, as Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu is doing well, so far, sources close to the national assembly had
stated that the zoning system and the permutation in the table by the cabal and
other political interest in positioning the speaker to be the next governor in
Lagos.
On
paper, the zones laying strong claims to the presidency and angling to produce
the next president are the South-East, South West and South-South.
Although
some political bigwigs from the North-East and North-West are considered to be
interested in the nation’s topmost job from the ruling APC, they are yet to
make their intentions known even though underground consultations are ongoing.
These
permutations are however not in favour of the speaker if he must stay back in
the legislative arm of the government. The zoning formula that was shared
online recently, it shows that when the presidency is zoned to the south, the
senate and speaker will be shared between the North West, northeast and
north-central. This means that the Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila either returns to
the house as a floor member or return to Lagos to be the governor.
It
is an open secret that Gbajabiamila is one of the loyal boys of Asiwaju, who
has been in the system for close to 20 years and has been a reliable confidant
of Jagaban and also shares his collective politics of inclusion.
Rep.
Femi Gbajabiamila was also once quoted as saying that many people owe their
successes to the magnanimity and accommodating nature of the All Progressives
Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
President
of the Senate, Ahmed Lawan, also once described Femi Gbajabiamila, as a
patriotic Nigerian and a dogged fighter for the interest of the country.
While
it is not certain whether Gov. Sanwo-Olu will return as Lagos governor come
2023, it is certain that Femi Gbajabiamila’s speakership slot will not be renewed
for the 10th assembly. Femi Gbajabiamila has paid his dues as a Lagos boy and
as a lawmaker whose constituency enjoys his representation via his many
developmental projects and youth empowerment programs that has been sustained
for over a decade.
While
in the house, he is seen as one of the most resolute and articulate lawmakers
who speak truth to power. As a minority leader, he has stood against countless
proposed policies which he feels do not serve the interest of the majority of
people he represents and has equally sponsored many people-oriented bills which
evidently propelled development on all fronts.
There
is no doubt that he is fit for the spot should he bow to the pressure. He is a
true Lagos boy.
He
was born on 25th June 1962 to the family of Mr and Mrs Lateef Gbajabiamila and
Olufunke Gbajabiamila in Lagos. He attended Mainland Preparatory School for
elementary education and Igbobi College in 1973 where he completed his
secondary education. Subsequently, he enrolled at King William’s College on the
Isle of Man, the United Kingdom for his A-Level. He was accepted into the
University of Lagos, Nigeria. He graduated with a Bachelor of Law (LL.B.) with
honours in 1983 and was called to the Nigerian bar in 1984.
He
first worked for the law firm, Bentley Edu & Co., in Lagos, before
establishing his own law firm, Femi Gbaja & Co. He then earned his Juris
Doctor from Atlanta’s John Marshall Law School in Georgia, USA, passed the
Georgian bar exam in 2001, and set up a law firm in Atlanta. While in the USA,
he actively participated in the election of Bill Campbell who later went on to
become Mayor of Atlanta.
News
has it that it was Pa Ayo Adebanjo who encouraged him to come to Nigeria and
join politics in 2002. In fact, Pa Adebanjo told city people he told
Gbajabiamila to come home and contest for governor.
“I
muted the idea to him and he embraced it. In fact, I told him to come and
contest for governor. Because he’s intelligent. He’s very smart and
well-groomed.
He
came back to Nigeria and just as advised, he joined the AD, but suddenly the
interest changed. I came back to Nigeria and saw that he has been convinced to
reconsider his ambition and settle for the Legislative arm”, he said.
Gbajabiamila
was elected to the House of Representatives in 2003 and re-elected in 2007. He
represents the Surulere I constituency of Lagos State, and he has remained in
the green chamber since then.
Honourable
Femi Gbajabiamila has shown over the years that he is committed to the
development of his constituency and the numerous constituents that voted him
into office. The sheer number of constituency projects that he has embarked
upon since his ascendance to the Speakership position has led to insinuations
that he is gearing up to contest for the governorship position of Lagos State
in the next general elections.
In
a matter of months, the veil of doubt shall be flung open and we will all know
who goes where.
Joseph
Seun Emmanuel
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