By Kabir Assada
The day is Monday 7th April, 2014. The venue is Sultan Palace Sokoto. The Speaker is His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, CFR, mni. The event is turbanning of the new District Heads. Sitting calmly and graciously clad in all white dress including his shoes is the number four citizen. Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, who presumably must have been swimming deep in thoughts about the myriad problems that bedeviled this country and how best to save it from imminent crumple.
Like a bombshell, then came the breaking news, from no other person, but the Spiritual leader of the Muslims in the entire West African sub region. In his words, “After careful consideration and wide consultations, the Sultanate Council has decided to honour the most respected, indefatigable indigene of the Sokoto Caliphate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal with the title of MATAWALLEN SAKKWATO!”
From his inception to date, he has demonstrated democratic sense and high level of wisdom, tact and sagacity unprecedented in history. His ability to lead the best institution of the lower house which is one of most significant organ in a democratic system anywhere, in peace, harmony and unity is not only real, but a source of reference for generations to come. In addition, it is a testimony that, Speaker Tambuwal is poised to take this country out of the woods.
This honour is coming to the person of the Speaker Tambuwal, contrary to the popular adage that, a prophet has no honour in his home country. Without fear of contradiction, Speaker Tambuwal has proved critics, detractors, and opponents wrong. Age wise, Tambuwal is the youngest Speaker to lead the lower
House of National Assembly. By the time he assumed duty, he is 45. He is indeed within the age bracket of what is called the ‘new breed politicians,’ but very agile, proactive, full of energy and vigor to lead. His leadership assessment is not only appreciated by thousands of people, especially his teeming colleagues, but making great impact in stabilizing the democratic polity through establishing due process, decorum, transparency and accountability in governance, as well as adhering to the rule of law, constitutionalism and human rights, which is the hallmark of any democratic governance worth its name. Is it not a credit for a young politician to lead a House of Representatives that comprises of 360 members of distinct backgrounds and political philosophies? Is it not credit to be able to manage crises that has the potentialities of dragging the House into the mud? Is it not a credit to lead a House that checkmates the excesses of the executive arm in having a meaningful democratic rule? Therefore, the
House Matawallen Sakkwato leads, from its inception to date, perform its oversight functions diligently on the activities of the executives without interference. It is democracy in action. Thanks to Speaker’s leadership audacity and approach.
Besides, Speaker Tambuwal is acceptable and supported by the overwhelming members of the lower House, which was not the case before him in the past. How did he achieve that? He established himself as a man of all manner of people, irrespective of party ideology or affiliations.
He gives not only listening ears, but helping hands to all colleagues in joy and in their period of their grief. In history, it is the only Speaker that visits his colleagues in their places and homes, irrespective of party differences. One good story about the new MatawallenSakkwato is that, despite being part of the new-breed politicians, he has undisputable rapport with old-breed ones. Being obedient, respectful to elders is a great treasure.
Tambuwal has achieved both acceptance from the young and the old from across the country. In essence, those who are rooting for his presidential ambition are from across the entire country.
In history, MatawallenSakkwato is the only speaker that emerged with the overwhelming votes and support of the members of the House of Representatives, without recourse to the imposition of the ruling party. From 1999 to the time he became speaker, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had been superimposing Speakers on the lower house, without allowing members to decide and choose from among them whom they see fit to lead them. Speaker Tambuwal, as fate would have it, is different. In fact, what baffles many was how PDP legislators, particularly old-timers among them refused to tow the line of the party, and settled for Tambuwal.
Despite ruling party’s opposition against his being Speaker, MatawallenSakkwato has proved to be a force to reckon with. Reliable reports from within the lower House indicates that, MatawallenSakkwato is supported by PDP members as well as members of the opposition party.
In conclusion, the question on the lips of well-meaning Nigerians is that, after the speakership, what next? Many people are of the view that, for Nigeria to be salvage from its present predicaments of bad leadership, corruption, disobedience to the rule of law, MatawallenSakkwato is the answer.
As a young politician, who has many friends than enemies with the support of both the old and new-breed, Matawalle can steer the ship of Nigeria to a promised land, taking into cognisance that he is not a stooge of any political moneybag and does not have a godfather. As a professional lawyer who has been in the legislative arm since 2003, he has acquired the requisite knowledge and experience to be in charge of the executive branch of government.
All hail the new President… (I beg your pardon), MatawallenSakkwato!
Assada is Editor-in-Chief of MuryarArewa magazine. Email: [email protected].
