Tambuwal’s political rascality and the rest of us By Tamuno West-Greene When the forces that worked for the enthronement of Aminu Tambuwal were at work, they simply forgot that those who live by the sword die by the sword. When the back stabbing was on, it was, for them, not reasonable to think as persons of integrity. When it was acceptable to deprive Mulikat Akande the opportunity to be Speaker to represent the political interest of the South-West in the delicate political balancing in the country, the All Progressives Congress (APC) elements from the geo-political zone were comfortable selling their political birthright for a pot of stew. Now the conspirators are at daggers drawn and they expect sympathy from Nigerians. In fact, one of them, who says he is a lawyer shot himself and others in the foot when he asked in Abuja: “What makes the case of the Speaker of Ondo Assembly different from Tambuwal’s? His political opinion? Let us make this abundantly clear; the legislature is a separate but equal arm of government. It is not inferior nor is it subservient to the Executive. Their powers are separated under the constitution and it can never be an extension or department of the Presidency or PDP. “Just as the legislature cannot regulate the workings of the presidency or determine for the President when he should call Federal Executive Council meetings and we note that there was a time he did not for months, so also can the Presidency not determine for the House when to reconvene or meet.” So Femi Gbajabiamila wants Nigerians to believe that the House is an independent body, but yet its members went to the Judiciary to get the House of Representatives not to sit, even when the rules clearly state that the House shall make rules to regulate itself, and does not require outside interference? If Gbajabiamila did not know how to use his legal sense and mouth, he was advised to do so by a fellow member and Deputy House Majority Leader, Leo Ogor, who responded to Gbajabiamila and other APC member who addressed the press. Speaking on behalf of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) caucus, he said: “What I will tell the APC members, especially Femi (Gbajabiamila), is that he should use his head, not his mouth too much.” Ogor claimed that the “confrontational approach” adopted by the APC caucus in “handling this matter will not get them anywhere. I expect Gbajabiamila to learn to use his head, else if the heavens fall, all us will bear the consequences.” Now Tambuwal, is accusing his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, of having a hand in his travails when all along they were hand in gloves and working assiduously to undermine PDP, as well as deprive the South-West its political right, because some devious South- West politicians want to expand their political base. Today, the politicians from that zone have been reduced to non-starters and clapping boys for the North they fought for years under Chief Obafemi Awolowo not to be subject to. With a new Asiwaju in place, these highly endowed people group are now subjects to other ethnic nationalities in the country. As this goes on, men like Gbajabiamila are not ashamed that they have become political slaves in a country they were once the torch bearers. Sad, but the South-West, the light, has become the land of darkness ruled by dark forces. Already, the media is awash with stories that security and intelligence agencies are seeing Tambuwal’s actions as those of a traitor who is planning to “subvert the 2015 budget preparation, presentation and consideration, fomenting political instability in the polity and being a pawn in a plot by the APC to win the 2015 presidential elections.” It is being suggested, and for good cause, that the Speaker’s actions are intended to sabotage government by “deliberately creating instability in the smooth running of the Federal Government system and at the same time planning to benefit from it.” One of the newspapers quoting security and other sources disclosed that the lock down of the Lower House to December 3 is meant to suspend deliberations on the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) which forms the basis for the preparation of the nation’s annual budget, the presentation and consideration of the 2015 budget and deliberations on other issues of national importance. It is even being alleged that as part of the strategies to undo President Goodluck Jonathan in his re-election bid, political foes, which appear to include the Speaker, want to use the anger and bitterness that follow the PDP primaries on resumption to further their interests. It is calculated that since many PDP representatives may lose their tickets at the primaries, they will be amenable to being used to orchestrate action against the President. Should the president continue to toe the path of a dyed-in- the-wool democrat, political pundits say he may have his face spattered with mud by democratic forces bent on sending him packing. May be it is time he wakes up to the reality of enemies within and without and wield the big stick using the enormous powers available to him. Meantime, the House Leader, Mulikat Akande, is telling the tale of how Tambuwal and other leaders pulled a fast one on her to announce his movement out of the PDP only after she had moved the motion for adjournment, as was required of her. What it all shows is that Nigeria’s number four citizen is a man who lacks honour and should be so treated by those with the capacity to deal with him. Let him go to court if he feels aggrieved but such a man should not be allowed to get away with this high level of misbehavior. An example should be set. When the President, Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Dr Frederick Fasehun, said on the eve of the June 12 anniversary in 2011 that the emergence of Tambuwal as the new Speaker, House of Representatives , was a dangerous development and a slap on Yoruba race, no prominent Yoruba son backed him forcefully, but today, it is not only that race is being slapped. Even the PDP and the president of the country are being slapped around because of the political rascality of one man. He needs to be cut to size by every means possible. Enough is enough! Mr West-Greene contributed this piece from Port- Harcourt.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Nov 2014 02:08:06 +0000
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