Speaker Tambuwal’s Final Journey to APC By Ibrahim Muye Yahaya

As we count down towards this ground-breaking 2015 general election, dice are been cast on People’s Democratic Party (PDP), All Progressive Congress (APC) and few significant politicians in Nigeria who are likely to throw their cart into the ring to enable them remain politically relevant in the country. Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal is one of the few high-flying politicians in Nigeria who belongs to that class.

Even though it is not yet obvious which office Mr. Speaker will choose to contest for in 2015, the challenge is what options he may choose from the available alternatives. With various options open to him, the youthful and thorough politician has managed to keep everybody including his political family guessing on the next step he is likely to take. It is rumoured that Mr. Speaker may be mulling contesting for the office of the President in 2015. Since 1999 to date, all effort by the successive Speaker’s remains futile in their bid to win election into legislative or executive office.

Mr. Speaker’s struggle for good governance and determination to realize it was such that he wholeheartedly went into politics in 2003 where he contested and win election as a member representing Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency. His going into politics was not because he wanted anything for himself; it was because he wanted the masses enjoy the dividend of democracy and good governance which he believed the nation needed. The prevalence at the floor of National Assembly on June 6th, 2011 which led to his triumph as the Speaker by defeating the People Democratic Party (PDP) anointed candidate, Hon. (Mrs.) Mulikat Adeola has remained the greatest victory in history of Nigeria’s democracy since 1999 as the members ignore the tradition of leadership imposition by the executive. Since his emergence as the number four citizen in the country against all permutations within the ruling party, the presidency and the PDP have not stopped viewing him as a disloyal party Man. Under his able leadership, House of Representative has become a vivacious arm of government Nigerians come to revere and have poise with. These feats were achieved as the member’s discharge their duties without unwarranted meddling into its affairs by the House leadership or the executive. His stance and that of the Green Chamber on national issues which often differs with the government illustrate that the chamber under his leadership was not a rubber stamp or the annex of the executive.

Love or loathe him, Hon. Tambuwal today is a factor in Nigeria’s political terrain. He is endowed with the leadership qualities to turn things around for good. If he settles to aspire for number one office in the Country by 2015 and got elected, he won’t be a beginner in pioneering the affair of our great Country. Having exhibited his leadership know-how in pioneering the affairs of the Green chamber; he is not going to be a weak, religious, regional chauvinist or a tribal aristocrat. His wide contacts and acquaintances across the country with people irrespective of religion, ethnic, party affiliation and region has qualified him as the president Nigerians won’t regret if elected. Those aura has position him as the brand of a leader Nigerians worth at this critical time, especially as the foundation of its unity is been shaking with religious, regional and ethnic uproar. Speaker Tambuwal’s another unbolt option in 2015 is going back home to serve the people of his State as the Chief Executive. In fact, the race for who to lead the Sakwatawa’s in 2015 remains shaky as the potential hopefuls are in the race with ‘one leg in and one out’ because of his name which often ring bells as the aspirant who will remain unbeaten if he settle to contest for the office. His cosmopolitan nature, exposure, humbleness, foresight, charisma and experience has given him an edge that he won’t be round peg in a square hole if elected to lead Sakwatawa’s.

Another choice for him to remain relevant in the nation’s political terrain in 2015 is if he chooses to contest for the Senatorial Seat. Having been in the House of Representative for past a decade, where he once served as a Deputy Minority Whip and eventually as the Speaker. As it’s often said, “the power of law depends on the lawmaker”. His presence at the Red Chamber in 2015 will make him a replica of Late Senator Idris Ibrahim Kuta who after serving as Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives from 1979-1983, moves to the Senate and end up been a household name in the chamber of 1983-84, 1991-93 and 1999-2007 who before his death, was regarded as the encyclopedia of legislatives rule by many of his colleagues.

Hon. Tambuwal since 2003 has endeared himself to the people of his constituency. He has promoted and contributed to educational development, job creation, agricultural development and provides health care assistance to his people. It will be a piece of cake for him if he decides re-contest for his seat back to the green chamber in 2015. Early this year, his unanticipated and impromptu trip to his constituency often stopping in small villages meeting the people and asked what they are thinking about the government and the area they need more attention shows he has not lost touch with constituency. Going by the effective leadership and competence he exhibited as the Speaker since 2011 to date, the House of Representatives will not hesitates to re-elect him as its Speaker as did by the Senators in 2011 to Senator David Mark as its President. Mr. Speaker can never be accused of arrogating power and protocols to his office neither behaves as an emperor before his colleagues and aides. At home, office or gathering; wherever you meet him, you glimpse in him a leader that is at ease, accessible and listening. It’s one of the many reasons why the green chamber has enjoyed a focus, purposeful, stable, unified and transparent leadership under him.

The event of 27th September 2014 where he was turbaned as the new Mutawallen Sokoto where his people roll out drums to celebrate with him irrespective of party affiliations further indicates that the Sakwattawa’s has made up their mind and have anointed him as their next Governor. The crowd that accompanied him to the Sultan Abubakar Airport on 28thSeptember 2014 on his way to Hajj after the turbaning ceremony with over 300 motorcade and motorcycles filled with people was a further indication that Sakwatawa’s have agreed, signed, sealed and delivered to him the office of the Governor. Now that the 2015 general election is around the corner and with his recent decamping from PDP to APC, the next political line of action of Mr. Speaker is one of the most awaited today in Nigeria, as his case has become something of interest to political analyst, political watchers, media, Nigerians, ruling party and the opposition.