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Nigeria - APC leader Bola Tinubu according to reports is currently lobbying Senate President Bukola Saraki to ensure that his Babatunde Fowler is confirmed as the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), following his nomination by President Muhammadu Buhari.
As required by law, Fowler would have to be confirmed by the Senate before he can head the FIRS. The last nominee for the position (during Jonathan's regime) had been rejected by the senate.
Fowler is a well known associate and protégé of Tinubu who served for nine years as the Chairman of the Lagos Board of Inland Revenue (LBIR).
There is a cold war between Saraki and Tinubu following the senate elections, in which Saraki outmaneuvered Tinubu and the APC leadership to emerge senate president.
A source said depending on how Tinubu plays his cards, his overture to the senators could either help to resolve the contending issues between the two groups or deepen the division in the Senate.
But many pro-Saraki senators, particularly the 81 who signed the vote of confidence on the Senate President on July 28 are already spoiling for a fight.
“This is payback time for Asiwaju for all his machinations against the Senate since he could not get his candidate to become Senate President. This is an opportunity to force Tinubu to the table and mend bridges or break them further,” said a senator close to Saraki.
The pro-Saraki senators are also angling to move against Fowler because they believe Tinubu is scheming to take control of the country’s finances under the Buhari administration without the president realising the game plan.
ThisDay Live
As required by law, Fowler would have to be confirmed by the Senate before he can head the FIRS. The last nominee for the position (during Jonathan's regime) had been rejected by the senate.
Fowler is a well known associate and protégé of Tinubu who served for nine years as the Chairman of the Lagos Board of Inland Revenue (LBIR).
There is a cold war between Saraki and Tinubu following the senate elections, in which Saraki outmaneuvered Tinubu and the APC leadership to emerge senate president.
A source said depending on how Tinubu plays his cards, his overture to the senators could either help to resolve the contending issues between the two groups or deepen the division in the Senate.
But many pro-Saraki senators, particularly the 81 who signed the vote of confidence on the Senate President on July 28 are already spoiling for a fight.
“This is payback time for Asiwaju for all his machinations against the Senate since he could not get his candidate to become Senate President. This is an opportunity to force Tinubu to the table and mend bridges or break them further,” said a senator close to Saraki.
The pro-Saraki senators are also angling to move against Fowler because they believe Tinubu is scheming to take control of the country’s finances under the Buhari administration without the president realising the game plan.
ThisDay Live