…. Says he has capacity to bridge leadership gap
By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Barely 23 days to the National Convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential primary, Sokoto State governor, Aminu Tambuwal has assured the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) that he is an embodiment of legislative and executive experience needed to take the party back to the Presidential villa in 2023.
The governor who spoke to members of the party’s NWC at the PDP National Headquarters on Friday in Abuja pointed out that Nigerian are yearning for the PDP to come and revive the fortunes of the country.
“This country is looking for a unifier and I believe that with my experience, I check that box. I believe that if you look at my experience and my past in the National Assembly, where I have spent 12 unbroken years, from being a member of House of Representatives, to deputy chief whip, to minority leader, deputy chief whip and the speaker of the house, built friendship network of friends across the length and breadth of this country. And I do quite honestly, believe that I understand the dynamics of Nigeria. I understand this country very well and I have a fair knowledge of its peoples and their concerns. I believe that I can be that unifier that all the tenders in this country can accept as the candidate of our party, and I can be used by the party to win the elections convincingly.
“Mr. Chairman, from my track record, being a lawyer by training, a member of Parliament and governor as at today, I believe that I have the right experience in governance, not just governance but democratic governance; not just democratic governance, but also good governance; to check that box that we’re looking for, an experienced person who is used to a federal structure of governance, not a provincial structure of governance at a state level, no federal structure of governance and I believe that I understand the constitution of this country very well as a lawyer. So with all of this experience, I can foot the bill” Tanbuwal boasted.
The former Speaker said he is a party man and will not hesitate to consult with all the organs of the party to ensure that everyone is carried along in governance.
“I have been a party man, at various times, at local level. I’ve been organizing Secretary of our party, the legal advisor of our party. So I know the party administration to some extent, and I’m chairman of the PDP governor’s forum, so I’ve been working with the National Working Committee of our party in managing the affairs of the party. So I appreciate the significance and importance of party leaders and party leadership and consultation with the party.
“When we get there and by the grace of God, we will make sure that our manifesto is implemented by your government, the government of the Republic of Nigeria under my watch. I will make sure that we consult the party on party policies and party issues because we know that the NWC we have, is rich enough to advise our party.
“When we get the ticket, what really we’re going to run on, is the Manifesto of the party. So running on the Manifesto of the party, we must be in consultation with the party and I assure you that we shall do that consultation. In any case, by my background as a lawmaker, I have always been consultative. I believe in consultation. I believe in inclusiveness, and I believe in democratic governance. For you to succeed, you must consult you must get involved and you must have views” he said.
The aspirant said that he will build the needed bridge between the north and the south, the young and the old. He said that his administration will be sensitive to the mood of the nation and will not pretend that all is well when the educational sector has been shut down for months.
“In Nigeria today, we are looking for leadership with the right temperament, temperament is key and important going forward in this country. And we must have a leadership that will bring everybody around the table and discuss about the problem from Nigeria. Is it structural? Is it about restructuring? Is it about the economy? Is it about power. Whatever it is Mr. Chairman, I assure you that when we get there, we shall go back to those days of the PDP where we’ll be having sectoral interactions, on agriculture, on the economy, on power, on whatever, on health on education. Not a situation where ASUU will be left to be on strike for this long”.
In his response, the chairman of the Party, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu acknowledge the strength of the aspirant. He said that all the contestants are eminently qualified and said that it would have been a pleasure if the office of the President could be rotated among all the aspirants for three months each.
“As you said, the country needs a very serious leader, a visionary leader who is fair and justice, who can turn around the fortunes of the country in a very short time. And I’m sure that PDP has 17 quality people
“In fact, sometimes I say maybe we should just share the time, everybody should do president for three months after another person will takes over. All of you are competent, but it is true.
“You’re one of those who are very, very well prepared with your experience in both legislative and the executive arm of government. And also your legal background. You will actually run the country with the fear of God and the rule of law”.
While reiterating that the NWC will not take any side or support any candidate, he assured Tambuwal that the party will create an enabling environment for a rancor free and fair primary election and work with who emerges as the candidate of the party to ensure that the party reclaims the presidential villa.
On the entourage of the governor is former Sokoto State Deputy governor Muktar Shagari, former National Publicity of the party, Olisa Metu, Aminu Tambuwal Campaign Director-General Sen. Tunde Ogbeha, the Spokesperson of the Campaign Council Prince Daniel and other teaming supports of the campaign council.
