Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed the reason he and former President Goodluck Jonathan were opposed to the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011.
Obasanjo said the decision was driven by party considerations and the desire to sustain gender inclusion in Nigeria’s legislative leadership. He made the revelation yesterday in Abuja at a leadership colloquium and the 60th birthday celebration of Tambuwal, a former Speaker, and one time governor of Sokoto State.
The event brought together key figures like former Senate President David Mark, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Adams Oshiomhole, Kayode Fayemi and Mulikat Akande-Adeola.
Also in attendance were Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senate Minority Leader, Senator Abba Moro, Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Matthew Kukah; former Speakers of the House of Representatives Patricia Etteh and Yakubu Dogara; Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe; Minister of Housing, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.
Former governors present included ex-governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Masari (Katsina), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Ibikunle Amosun and Otunba Gbenga Daniel (both Ogun), and as well as former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha and National Secretary of the ADC, Rauf Aregbesola.
Tambuwal, then a second-term lawmaker and former Deputy Chief Whip from the North-West, defeated Akande-Adeola, a lawmaker from the South-West, in a keenly contested election.
While his ambition was not supported by the then President Jonathan, Tambuwal polled 252 votes to Akande-Adeola’s 90, out of 340 votes cast.
Speaking, Obasanjo, in a reflective and nostalgic address, confirmed that both he and the then-President Jonathan initially opposed Tambuwal’s emergence as the House Speaker.
“Our thinking was that if, for the first time, a woman had become Speaker of the House, she should be encouraged to remain there,” Obasanjo said.
The former President, however, said the lawmakers exercised their constitutional independence, insisting on Tambuwal, a decision that tested party supremacy in a democratic system.
“But your members thought otherwise, and you made your decision. And we supported your decision. Initially, even you were not sure of where we would stand, but we stood with you,” he added.
The former president described Tambuwal as a humble leader whose rise demonstrated that legislative authority ultimately rests with elected representatives.
“One thing I saw in you was humility. Greatness that does not include humility is greatness that is hollow. Your greatness is not hollow,” Obasanjo noted.
Jonathan, who was president at the time of the contest, spoke virtually and corroborated Obasanjo’s account, admitting that there were issues and disagreements between the executive and the House over the speakership.
“When he was Speaker, I was the President, and we had some disagreements.
“But one thing I must give to Tambuwal is that members of the House believed so much in him,” Jonathan stated.
According to him, the overwhelming support Tambuwal enjoyed among lawmakers demonstrated leadership qualities that many politicians lacked.
“He held the House together. His colleagues always believed in him, and as President then, I appreciated that quality of leadership, even when we disagreed,” he added.
On his part, David Mark, then Senate President, who disclosed how Tambuwal and his deputy approached him ahead of the election and virtually conscripted him into their political rebellion.
“They came to me and said, ‘Sir, whether you like it or not, you are adopting us as your sons.
“They told me clearly that whether the President and the party wanted them or not, they would emerge Speaker and Deputy Speaker and that I would sponsor them,” Mark recalled.
He said the situation placed him in an awkward position, caught between party loyalty and legislative autonomy.
He said he deliberately ignored pressure from the PDP leadership to locate Tambuwal on the eve of the election.
“For once, Mr President, I disobeyed you,” Mark said, drawing laughter and applause from the audience.
He described Tambuwal as deeply trusting and politically courageous, saying the 2011 contest ultimately strengthened Nigeria’s democratic institutions.
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar said he cut short a vacation abroad to attend the event, describing Tambuwal as “a leader in the making” and one of the figures Nigeria should look to for future leadership.
“We are celebrating a remarkable Nigerian leader,” Atiku said, stating, “We hope he will live up to the prayers and expectations of Nigerians.”
Also, former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, described Tambuwal as a bridge-builder committed to consensus, justice and national unity, urging him to use his experience to continue reconciling differences in Nigeria.
“He is a man deeply committed to the unity of this country and to building consensus for development,” Obi said.
Tambuwal, in his remarks, said Nigeria had reached a critical point where collective action was no longer optional, declaring that the country was in urgent need of salvation from years of missteps and poor governance.
He described the current state of the nation as deeply troubling and far removed from the ideals and aspirations of its founders, noting that the situation had disappointed not only conscientious citizens alive today but even those who had laboured in the past to build the country.
According to him, national recovery would only be possible if Nigerians were honest enough to admit that something was fundamentally wrong with the way the country was being run.
Tambuwal stressed that rescuing Nigeria must rise above personal ambition, ethnic sentiment or party politics, urging political parties to articulate programmes for development.