By Aminu Mohammed
The emergence of Honourable Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as Speaker of the House Representatives in June 2011 took many PDP chieftains and supporters by surprise, especially the presidency. In fact, there were several plots to stop him but he outsmarted the PDP executive, the presidency and even former President Obasanjo who wanted Hon. Mulikat to emerge. Ever since becoming Speaker, neither PDP nor the presidency has rested to see him vacate the seat he has been destined to occupy.
Unfolding events since June 2011 can reshape the history of the cat and dog relationship between the legislature and executive beginning from 1960. In the last three years, while the senate maintained cordial relationship with the presidency the House of Representatives has been battling PDP and the presidency. On several occasions the Speaker has been absent at some critical party meetings and just recently while the Tony Anenih-led PDP reconciliation committee visited Sokoto for fence mending, it was shocking that the speaker was absent at the PDP meeting but surprisingly surfaced at the stakeholders’ meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) with Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko.
However, for those who know the feud between Tambuwal and PDP on one hand and Tambuwal and the presidency on the other, his appearance at the APC meeting in Sokoto on October 20, 2014 did not come as a surprise. What is surprising to most political observers was however, how he was introduced as a long standing APC supporter and admirer and most importantly, as a founding member of its formation. In fact, Tambuwal’s appearance at the October 20, APC meeting in Sokoto put to rest speculations that he would vie for the presidential race and also opened a new chapter of speculation about his interest to succeed Wamakko on May 29, 2015 at Lodge Road.
There is strong evidence that Tambuwal is warming up to take over from Wamakko as the next governor. There are also speculations that Wamakko has been grooming Tambuwal for the Lodge Road job since 2012 when he read a citation on him at the state polytechnic where five illustrious sons of the state were given merit awards. The citation on Tambuwal on November 18, 2012 was more of a political speech preparing the Speaker for the 2015 gubernatorial election than for award.
Going through the list of governorship aspirants in the APC, Tambuwal, who is yet to declare, appears to be the best. So far, there are four aspirants whose posters are visible at major roundabouts in the state capital while same number of aspirants in PDP also have their posters flooding the state, but who among them has the qualities of Tambuwal as aptly described by Wamakko?
In APC, before October 20, 2014 when Tambuwal appeared on the scene, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Faruku Malami Yabo, was at the fore-front while posters of Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, Sokoto, Bello Abubakar Gwiwa, and Abubakar Sanyinna, who is heading the state Assembly Commission, are everywhere. The PDP also has aspirants like Senator Abdallah Wali, Senator Abubakar Gada, former sports minister, Yusuf Suleiman, and state deputy governor, Barrister Mukhtari Shagari, in contention. These eight and Tambuwal are so far those praying to succeed Wamakko. Although, all the aspirants believe they have what it takes to win but in the end the people will decide and if by any chance there is a political survey now, Tambuwal would surely be the man to beat.
I once stated in an earlier article titled who steps into Wamakko’s shoes that there is no candidate like Tambuwal and that the day he declares will be end of campaign activities because as Wamakko stated, the Speaker does not need any introduction. He does not need any political marketing and in short he does not need any campaign but as a political virtual, his supporters will push him to do so. As we await Wamakko to anoint Tambuwal or perhaps as we await APC and PDP to unveil their consensus candidates, the news in Sokoto and Nigeria would be Tambuwal’s declaration for Sokoto state governorship election in 2015. For now, a committee headed by governor Wamakko has been appointed to come out with consensus candidates for the APC and if the party wants to floor the PDP at the 2015 polls, those contesting with Tambuwal should in the interest of the party allow the Speaker to run against whoever PDP presents as its consensus candidate because there is no better candidate for APC like Tambuwal and governor Wamakko should be commended for his foresight to bring Tambuwal into APC family.
The Wamakko factor is still visible and dominant in Sokoto politics and it would be difficult for PDP to break. In the last seven years, the governor has single handedly maintained a political structure that is hard to crack. His performance in office, his humility, magnanimity and compassion endear him to the people and whoever he anoints as successor is sure to be the next governor. PDP is a house divided because the Bafarawa factor is no longer relevant in Sokoto politics, therefore he has no choice than to follow Wamakko who has firm grip of political dominance in Sokoto.
As for APC aspirants who showed interest before Tambuwal stepped in, they should know that “gratitude unlocks the fullness of life and turns whatever we have into enough and more!! They should be grateful to Wamakko because he played a vital role for them to be where they are today. As for Mr. Speaker, local politics is dirtier than what transpires in the House of Representatives because every local voter believes he is part of the success story and should be heard, so listen, think and act by applying the principle of fairness so that like your mentor, the story will have a happy ending.
Mohammed wrote from Sokoto
