Tambuwal: Travails of a statesman

The story had it that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, “who arrived Hotel Seventeen, venue of an ongoing international conference on security and development organised by the office of the National Security Adviser at 9.16 am ahead of other VIPs, was stopped from gaining immediate access into the premises by […]

The story had it that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, “who arrived Hotel Seventeen, venue of an ongoing international conference on security and development organised by the office of the National Security Adviser at 9.16 am ahead of other VIPs, was stopped from gaining immediate access into the premises by the soldiers, with his official car.” It was reported that despite being identified by his security details, the soldiers said they had “orders from above” to search the Speaker’s car before being allowed into the premises of the conference. Exasperated with the treatment meted to him, Aminu Tambuwal reportedly alighted from the official car, complete with flag and insignia, and walked the rest of the distance into the venue.
The humiliation of Aminu Waziri Tambuwal came four years after he was elected Speaker in a landslide. Brushing aside their party’s objections on 6th June, 2011, many People’s Democratic Party (PDP) members of the House of Representatives voted for Tambuwal because according to them they saw in him a completely detribalised Nigerian. The members, who were looking for someone with an independent mind and the required experience to lead the House, could not be intimidated by the presence of Tony Anenih as they rejected the ruling party candidate, Mrs Mulikat Akande, who scored only 90 votes as Tambuwal triumphed with 252 votes. The Members were confident that Speaker Tambuwal could help consolidate on the virtues of legislative independence and efficiency, unity and stability of the country.
In recent times, Tambuwal has had to contend with insinuations that he is hobnobbing too much with the opposition and thus, no longer a loyalty party man. The PDP has continued to be dismayed by the fact that Tambuwal has been attending functions called by some opposition politicians and believes that he is secretly a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC). Aminu Tambuwal’s repeated response is that he is the Speaker of the House of Representatives and not PDP. Unlike some politicians more highly placed than him who said they wanted to save the ruling party, Tambuwal wants to save the Nigeria, by safeguarding the independence of its House of Representatives. These are not political niceties the PDP can tolerate; the party simply wants him to line up the entire House behind the ruling party, on all issues. They want to pocket the House, like they did the Senate. They fail to realise that the House is more diverse and contains younger persons some of whom are opposed to the roulette going on in the upper house.
Thus, whereas the Ahmed Makarfi-led Senate Committee is busy absolving the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke, and the NNPC of any blame in the missing $20 billion, the House of Representatives is poised to investigate the woman for allegedly wasting N10 billion on the hiring of planes for private and official functions. Instead of submitting herself for the probe, Mrs Alison-Madueke, who claims to have transformed the oil sector, has run to the court to procure an injunction to stop the House from performing its constitutional oversight duties. Look no further therefore, if you’re looking for the distasteful reasons for embarrassing Aminu Waziri Tambuwal at the venue of the so called conference on security and development in Kaduna. The Oil Minister has simply become untouchable and anybody that seeks to inquire into her misdeeds simply becomes a target of those above. Clearly, those running our democracy are against separation of powers; for them, maximum power should rather be concentrated in their hands. I’ve never known of a democracy where the Executive openly intimidates another arm of government because it refuses to kowtow to its wishes.
Obviously, this is what the President means when he says he has not exercised even 50% of his powers. Actually, a highly place government official told me about a fortnight ago that the President can order for the arrest of a Governor, an elected Governor, and nothing will happen. Of no consequence is the legality or morality of the President ordering the arrest of a Governor; no, it is rather based on the belief that absolutely nothing will happen.
Whatever his adversaries may think of him, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the number four man in the hierarchy of our troubled democracy, is the most likeable fellow in that chain.  Tambuwal’s candour, courage, fair play, humility, perseverance and fear of God are second to none among our public officials and those qualities have served him very well. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, representing Kebbe/Tambuwal Federal Constituency, should do well to remember that he is not the choice of the PDP for the position of Speaker. The large measure of support Hon. Tambuwal has enjoyed thus far is irrespective of party affiliation and ethno – religious background and he must maintain it no matter whom he meets, notwithstanding abode, faith or tongue. On the heels of the recent Nyaya bombing; Tambuwal didn’t just visit the site, he donated his blood to injured Nigerians in need of it! Now, that’s how to lead.
I’m aware that in recent times, so many Nigerians who deem themselves utterly powerless to change things, have resorted to prayers to Almighty God to redirect our country from an increasingly dangerous path to that of righteousness. For the very first time in our democracy, the citizens of our country have begun to entertain doubts about whether their votes would determine the outcome of elections in August in Osun State, or nationwide in February, 2015. For multitude of others, there is serious apprehension that the 2015 elections may not even hold. Tambuwal, the statesman, should be rest assured that these hovering dark clouds will disappear, the day will break and we shall have our day in the bright sun.