His politics never ceases to intrigue me. Since that time in June - TopicsExpress



          

His politics never ceases to intrigue me. Since that time in June 2011 that he swept into national limelight like a thundering typhoon, emerging Speaker of the House of Representatives in defiance of the zoning formula of his political party, I have kept tabs on Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal. As lawyers say, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) wanted to ‘approbate and reprobate’ in the same breath. In the processes leading to the April 2011 presidential election, the party’s leadership jettisoned its zoning formula, and later attempted to return to same in the other key positions. They zoned the speakership to South-west, and actually ordained a candidate in person of Mrs Mulikat Akande-Adeola. But they did not reckon with the radical, an iconoclast called Tambuwal, who built a coalition with the then Action Congress of Nigeria, and rode triumphantly into office. Since then, the relationship between him and the Presidency, as well as with the PDP, has been that of cat and mouse, Tom and Jerry. But formally, Tambuwal remains a member of PDP, even till now. Last Saturday was Tambuwal’s day of glory as he got turbaned as the Matawallen of Sokoto by Sultan Sa’ad Abubakar III. And the grand event revealed a lot about the politics of the speaker of the House of Representatives. Before we return to what happened in Sokoto last weekend (as well as what did not happen), let me recall that I had done two pieces on Tambuwal in the recent past. The first was when former military president, Gen Ibrahim Babangida, gave him a tacit endorsement to run for president in 2015, and the second, after he survived a surreptitious plot to remove him as the county’s Number 4 citizen. After the IBB declaration, I had written under the title ‘Tambuwal 2015: What is IBB cooking?’ I had submitted thus: “For me, the redemption of Nigeria is the main thing. This country is in a mess – on all fronts. It is begging for redemption, for salvation… Is it Tambuwal that will get the job done? Let him go ahead. Or is it any other person we do not know yet? All I know is that Nigeria needs to be redeemed…” But when the Speaker was being frequently linked to the gubernatorial race in his native Sokoto State, I did another piece with the headline: ‘Tambuwal’s politics.’ And what did I say in that write up? “What does the political future hold post-2015 for Tambuwal? His name is being mentioned for the highest office in the land – president – while others are saying he is the man Magatarkada Wamakko will be comfortable to hand over power to as governor of Sokoto State… The higher stake has hurdles, very high ones, no doubt. Tambuwal has national appeal, good education, and other advantages… but the hurdles! On what platform would he run? PDP?… Okay, he looks towards the All Progressives Congress (APC). Will Tambuwal then be willing to quit the PDP as a seating Speaker? If yes, at what point?” The chicken has come home to roost, and it is time to get definitive answers to those questions. Party primaries are only weeks away for both governorship and presidential positions, and if Tambuwal would gun for either, he must show his hands. Now! And I think in a way, the hand became evident in Sokoto last Saturday See the line up of personalities at the turbaning of the Speaker as Matawallen Sokoto: Former head of state, Gen Muhamadu Buhari, former Lagos State governor, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Edo State governor, Chief John Odigie Oyegun, ex-Osun State governor, Chief Bisi Akande, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, governor, State of Osun, Dr Bukola Saraki, former governor of Kwara State, Alhaji Abdullahi Adamu, one time governor of Nasarawa State, former acting national chairman of PDP, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, former PDP national chairman, Chief Audu Ogbeh, the host governor, Wamakko, and many others. What do all these people have in common? There is a tie that binds them all – the All Progressives Congress (APC). And the saying still holds true: “Show me your friends, and I’ll tell you who you are.” Another one: “Birds of a feather flock together.” And the Good Book also asks: “Can two walk together except they are in agreement?” Tambuwal remains a member of PDP officially and physically, but his mind and soul are in APC. And talking of what did not happen in Sokoto last weekend. President Goodluck Jonathan was billed to be Special Guest of Honour at the event, but he did not show up. Neither did he send a representative. Rather, he preferred to go to Benin, where the PDP held a rally, in which returnees like Chief Tom Ikimi, were received. The development spoke volumes. It was the president’s own ‘body language.’ Remember Tambuwal had earlier said Jonathan’s body language favours corrupt practices? Well, the President exhibited another body language last Saturday. Tambuwal is not with us, he is even against us. So, why should we pretend, why should we attend his turbaning ceremony, which would be really an APC rally? To Benin we go, ye PDP people! The Speaker had a grand outing in Sokoto, and equally the PDP had its rally in Benin. There were no surprises, as Tambuwal has not attended key party outings in recent times! When a rally held in his backyard in Sokoto a couple of months back, during which former governor, Attahiru Bafarawa, was received into the PDP, the speaker was not there. And a couple of weeks back, when the North-west held a meeting in which Jonathan was endorsed as presidential candidate for a second term, the Matawallen was not there. All these speak very eloquently. In a matter of weeks, if not days, we must know Tambuwal’s game plan. Will he run for president? If yes, on which platform? Not on PDP’s, definitely. Will he run for Sokoto governor? Will he resign as Speaker, or will the lawmakers impeach him? That is doubtful, as through deft political strategies, the man has shown himself as being in firm control of the lower chamber of the National Assembly. The coalition that brought him into office in 2011 seems to still be solidly behind him. If the Executive tries anything funny, it may end up with a bloody nose (for the second or third time). So, what will Tambuwal do? We wait. When we all sleep, and face the same direction, it is unhealthy, and even more so in politics. It is good to have radicals, who have the courage of their convictions, and who can do things differently. That is the strength of Tambuwal. It is his attraction, his staying power. From relative obscurity in the last legislature, he has now shot into national prominence, a veritable dynamo, force to reckon with. The PDP will never forget this son of the Sokoto caliphate. He has brought dynamism, verve and spunk into our politics, and democracy is better served. But back to the question: Where is Tambuwal headed? What is he gunning for, the presidency or Sokoto gubernatorial? And on what platform? The PDP or APC? I think I have the answer. Or don’t you?
Posted on: Fri, 03 Oct 2014 16:14:00 +0000

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