Tambuwal and the PDP Boycott

The turbarning was an occasion that attracted high and mighty in the society especially within the legislature and well-wishers who see Speaker Tambuwal as an exceptional political leader who refused to join the chanting crowd just because he is high up there. In the near four years that he presided over the affairs of the […]

The turbarning was an occasion that attracted high and mighty in the society especially within the legislature and well-wishers who see Speaker Tambuwal as an exceptional political leader who refused to join the chanting crowd just because he is high up there. In the near four years that he presided over the affairs of the House of Representatives, Tambuwal navigated the tumultuous ship of the Green Chamber with very minimum rancor as hadpreviously been the case. He piloted the affairs of the House with maturity and in consensus with the majority of members who throughout remained focus in pursuinglegislativebusiness.
No doubt Speaker Tambuwal has opened a new horizon in the lexicon of legislativemanagement, administration and politics. It is common practice in parliaments across the globe especially in emerging societies that rancor is an integral part of parliamentary procedure. Members of parliament often hit each other while trying to either agree or disagree on matters of either procedure or legislation or even politics.
In the Nigerian scenario, what has become a common practice apart from the rancor at critical junctures is the agitation from disgruntled members of parliament to changetheir leadership at any given disagreement or dissatisfaction. We saw that severally in the past either in the senate or the House but not in the last few years that Amainu Tambuwal presided over the House of Representatives. In my view this is a fundamental departure from a past and the message simple:the positive development in the polity and the manner in which the presiding officer handle the affairs of the House and members.
One would ordinarily expect that given the scenario which gave rise to the Tambuwal’s emergence as the Speaker, more serious crises would be the order in the House, fortunately, despite the desperate refusal of the PDP, Tambuwal emerged and despite the seeming non-cooperation of the party, he has superintended the affairs of the House with excitement and exemplary leadership.
In his years as Speaker, Tambuwal has abstained from most of the frivolities of his party and government. He has dined with his colleagues in the PDP with long spoon and towed the line of his primary constituency on national politics not compromising his status as the head of the congress. No doubt, the PDP as is currently constituted would find difficulty in working smoothly with Tambuwal, because the party has not made any effort to solve the numerous problems that it has, instead it is on a daily basis plunging into deeper ocean of illegalities and impunity.
The reason is simple, by the day; the party and its government are getting clueless and incapable of addressing the myriad of problems the nation faces mainly as a result of its misrule. The PDP is increasingly becoming unfriendly and deadly and as such would not tolerate any decency within it and that is why campaigns are done in desperation and monies are stolen with impunity, a lot of which is expected to fuel the campaign at the end of the year and early next year.
The relationship between the party and Speaker Tambuwal has not been very friendly especially given the role the party played in ensuring that   he did not emerge as the speaker and the resultant recalcitrance and disregard of the party line by a majority of its legislators. The relationship between the two has been anything but good.
Little wonder it was last week in Sokoto when we rose to find that the only visible PDP personalities at the Sultan’s palace were the DSP Ekweremadu and DS Ihedeoha. No PDP governor was there or for that matter principal officer of the party attended the ceremony. Agreed the party was doing what it called unity rally in Benin City where all the party big wigs were and another rally that flopped in Kano.
Conversely those we saw in Sokotowere the APC titans. Meaning that the time has come when the political divide is evident and therefore the Speaker has spoken. I am of the view that the failure of the PDP leadership to attend the turbarning was a clear statement that the battle line has been drawn in the fight with the Speaker. No doubt, Tambuwal has never mixed his words in condemning anything that he sees as anti-people regardless of the position he holds. What this means is that if Nigeria were to have people with such political integrity, then, getting out of this mess that we find ourselves in would be an easy ride.
The moment leaders begin to peer review their activities and do things in order by correcting themselves as a result of critical assessment of their activities, the better for them and for us all. That is what we are lacking,which is why we are in trouble. A few months ago, people like Ahmad Mu’azu the appointed ‘game changer’ of President Jonathan was a critic of government, today, he is all over the places mixing his words telling Nigerians what in his inner most self-belief is false. He is posting in his Facebook page that Fulanis should vote for Jonathan but didn’t say why.
He cannot tell them what the president has done for them. A president under whose eyes the Fulainis are on a daily basis crucified and called names. They are called bandits among many other bad names. When murder is committed, the suspects are Fulani herdsmen, when Fulanis are killed, government and its agencies look the other way, because it is mere revenge and this guy is desperately calling on Fulanis to vote for Jona,all because he is now sitting atop Wadata Plaza, the headquarters of national chuwa-chuwa.
Nigeria is in trying times and the rulers are not aware of the gravity of the situation or are just looking the other way. They still believe they can do it as they like. They are missing the point and I am optimistic that if they don’t quickly realize what time it is and the gravity of the situation on the ground, they all will have their hands burnt.
In Sokoto last week Saturday was the great PDP boycott, but one fact that remains sacrosanct is that it was a great occasion and the absence of PDP leaders wasn’t even felt. That is to show the world how irrelevant the ruling party and its government have become. You may as well say it is the sign of many things to come.
I congratulate Tambuwal for keeping pace with time and reality and for not belonging to the chanting crowd. Leadership is much more than chorusing. It is about logic and reality. It is about sincerity and just falling in line because you belong and you fall out when you do not belong. The bravery of Mr. Speaker is astonishing in a nation where stealing and collusion are the issues. Where public tilt is open to the loyal troops and they can steal as much as they can so long as they cooperate.
What that means is that all the dirty monies those in government make is not within the reach of Tambuwal. It may look disadvantageous to a greedy politician who believes that with money, all things are possible but the good thing here is that without deeping his hands into that dirty pot of federal corruption, Tambuwal will go to sleep with his two eyes closed and certainly, it will soon be clear that honesty and integrity were once the hallmarks of public administration in Northern Nigeria and all civilized societies.
Those greedy ones would realize that money has a limit in the politics of integrity which they obvious lack. Congratulations Speaker Tambuwal, congratulations to integrity and stance. This is just the beginning of greater responsibility in the polity.