Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that key leaders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) opposed the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011, but that he personally backed the lawmaker against the party’s preference.
Obasanjo made the revelation in Abuja on Saturday while speaking at a colloquium organised to mark the 60th birthday of the former Sokoto State governor.
Tambuwal, then a PDP member representing Kebbe/Tambuwal federal constituency, emerged Speaker of the House in June 2011 after a dramatic parliamentary revolt that upended the party’s zoning arrangement.
At the time, the PDP had zoned the speakership to the South-West, in line with its power-sharing formula, with the presidency in the South-South, vice-presidency in the North-West, senate presidency in the North-Central and deputy senate presidency in the South-East.
Defying the arrangement, Tambuwal from the North-West formed an alliance with Emeka Ihedioha from the South-East, clinching the positions of Speaker and Deputy Speaker respectively.
The move was bolstered by support from the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), which commanded significant numbers in the House.
The development sparked outrage in the South-West, which later complained of marginalisation under the Goodluck Jonathan administration. Tambuwal would eventually defect from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reflecting on the episode, Obasanjo said the PDP leadership had favoured Mulikat Akande-Adeola, a lawmaker from Oyo State, as part of efforts to promote gender inclusion in national leadership.
“Our thinking was that if, for the first time, a woman had become Speaker of the House, she should be encouraged to remain there,” Obasanjo said.
However, he noted that members of the House asserted their independence and rejected the party’s position.
“But your members thought otherwise, and you made your decision. And we supported your decision. Initially, even you were not sure of where we would stand, but we stood with you,” the former president added.
Obasanjo also praised Tambuwal’s personal qualities, describing him as a leader marked by humility.
“One thing I saw in you was humility. Greatness that does not include humility is greatness that is hollow. Your greatness is not hollow,” he said.
Also speaking at the event, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who joined virtually, acknowledged that despite disagreements during their time in office, Tambuwal enjoyed strong support from lawmakers.
“When he was Speaker, I was the President, and we had some disagreements,” Jonathan said. “But one thing I must give to Tambuwal is that members of the House believed so much in him.”
The event drew an array of political heavyweights, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, former Anambra State governor Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Kukah, and former Speakers Patricia Etteh and Yakubu Dogara.
Others in attendance were Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe, Minister of Housing Ahmed Dangiwa, former governors Rotimi Amaechi, Kayode Fayemi, Aminu Masari, Udom Emmanuel, Ibikunle Amosun, Gbenga Daniel, Emeka Ihedioha and Rauf Aregbesola.
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