PDP leaders abandon session midway, fail to save Adeola-Akande
Senate crowns David Mark, Emeka Ihedioha is Deputy Speaker
UNTIL 11.10 a.m. yesterday, Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, a lawyer, from Sokoto State was classified a 'renegade' by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), his political platform. But by 4.50 p.m. he became something of a hero as he emerged the new Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The shape of things to come started emerging when the mere mention of Tambuwal around the National Assembly complex was welcomed with a gaping smile by most lawmakers.
Apparently determined to ensure that its anointed candidate, Mulikat Adeola-Akande emerged as Speaker, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) deployed its top leaders to monitor its members in the voting process. The party threatened to sanction members who worked against its zoning arrangement, which gave the Speaker's office to the South-west zone.
The opposition parties led by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) seemed to have revisited their failed alliance as they mobilised their members to dim the PDP's influence.
Yesterday's election gave the ACN, which dominates the politics of the South-West to bury whatever remains the vestiges of the PDP and former Olusegun Obasanjo's supposed political dynasty. And they succeeded.
Last weekend, the PDP had threatened that breaching its zoning arrangement by denying the South-West the office would be sanctioned. The party's threats did not deter Tambuwal and his followers, who eventually carried the day.
Decked in a safari suit and a bowler hat, which is very unusual of him, Tambuwal's entry into the chamber was greeted with shouts of "sai Tambuwal, sai Tabuwal, sai Tambuwal" by a large number of the lawmakers-elect in the chamber in solidarity with his speakership aspiration.
The PDP chiefs including its former Board of Trustees (BoT) Chairman, Chief Tony Anenih, Acting National Chairman, Haliru Mohammed, and the newly appointed Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim, among others sat in the section reserved for visitors and other eminent Nigerians in the Houser to watch the proceedings.
Tambuwal only needed 181 votes representing a simple majority of the 360 votes but he got 252.
Some state governors watched the process. They included Governors Timipre Sylva of Bayelsa State ,Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Idris (Kogi), Rochas Okorocha (Imo), Rauf Aregbesola (Osun) and the immediate past Governor of Oyo State Alao Akala as well as Second Republic Governor of Lagos State, Alhaji Lateef Jakande.
Horse-trading and other consultations between the Tambuwal and Adeola-Akande camps prevailed in the Chamber as the members-elect were seen criss-crossing from one seat to the other apparently to sway voters in favour of their candidates.
At the beginning of votes count by the Clerk of the National Assembly, Salisu Maikasuwa, who was assisted by the Deputy Clerk, Muyiwa Adejokun and Clerk of the House of Representatives, Anenih stepped out of the chamber unceremoniously when it became obvious that Tambuwal would win.
Bello and Sylva also left in the same manner before the Speaker was sworn in by the Clerk of the National Assembly at 5 p.m. Adeola-Akande got 90 votes while eight invalid votes were recorded with only one member abstaining from the exercise.
Meanwhile, tight security prevailed during the inauguration of the National Assembly located in the Three Arms Zone of Abuja.
Visitors including journalists assigned to cover the parliament had a herculean task gaining access to the gallery as they were thoroughly frisked by the security agents.
As early as 7:30 a.m. armed police officers with sniffer dogs deployed to the National Assembly took position at the main entrance and other strategic locations in the area to forestall any breach of the peace during the period of the inauguration.
Earlier at 9:30 am right in front of the gate the crowd of people seeking to enter into the National Assembly became too much for the security men. They resorted to tear-gassing the innocent men among who were journalists, families and relations of newly elected lawmakers.
Not even the inauguration of President Goodluck Jonathan attracted the kind of visitors that thronged Abuja yesterday.
Most hotels in the city and on the outskirts were filled to capacity as both Senators and House of Representatives-elect hired buses to bring their supporters and well-wishers to grace the inauguration.
The three arms zone was like a stadium as gaily-dressed women and youths milled around the National Assembly.
Intense campaign activities were however part of the major attraction as interest groups and youth wings of the PDP from the South- West and North-West waved the party flags in adulation of their preferred candidates for the office.
Leaders of Parliamentary Civil Society Partnership who distributed fliers canvassing support for Senator David Mark and Akande-Adeola, told The Guardian that they decided to support the candidates that have what it takes to oil good governance in Nigeria.
Tambuwal was the immediate past Deputy Chief Whip of the House. Ironically, the immediate past Chief Chip of the House, Emeka Ihedioha, who was the new Speaker's boss became his deputy.
Ihedioha was nominated by Sariki Adah, a PDP member from Sokoto State and was seconded by Usman Bello Kumo, another PDP member from Gombe State
The deputy speaker was returned unopposed as the supporters of Adeola-Akande quickly announced that they had resolved that in the interest of harmony and peace in the House, they had decided not to nominate anybody for the position of deputy speaker.
A member, Friday Etulah (PDP, Edo State) who spoke for Adeola-Akande supporters, stated that "considering the mood of the House now, we have consulted and agreed that in view of the need for harmony, we have dropped the idea of nominating any other person for the position of deputy speaker."
Tambuwal was nominated by Emmanuel Jime, a PDP member from Benue State and seconded by Nnenna Ikeji, another PDP member from Abia State.
Tambuwal did not waste time in accepting the nomination.
Similarly, Adeola-Akande accepted her nomination by Bethel Amadi, a PDP member from Imo State which was seconded by Useni Namadi, another PDP lawmaker from Jigawa State.
Maikasuwa took time to spell out the rules of the election, pointing out that the open balloting method would be adopted in accordance with the amended rule of the House.
But when he added that each member would be required to write his or her name and constituency on the ballot paper in addition to writing the name of the candidate of his choice, there was protest.
Lawmakers, who were mostly from the Tambuwal camp, were vehement in their opposition.
Jime stood up and described the remarks of Maikusuwa as attempts to change the open secret balloting rule. There was some rowdiness on the floor but calm soon returned.
Maikasuwa repeatedly drew the attention of members to the fact that whoever failed to write his name and constituency on the ballot paper would be considered as having cast a voided vote.
The roll call that preceded the election was characterised by strategic politically motivated applauses by members.
It was the name of Ihedioha that first attracted that kind of applause, which mainly came from the area where most returning members were seated.
And then, Adeola-Akande was called. The response from her mainly came from newly elected members.
But when Tambuwal was called, his supporters applauded and gave him a standing ovation.
It was learned that the arrest of former House Speaker, Dimeji Bankole by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) sent jitters to principal officers mentioned by him as beneficiaries of the N10 billion loan.
Tambuwal and Ihedioha were categorically mentioned in that statement.
Meanwhile, Bankole has congratulated Tambuwal in the keenly contested but transparent election. A statement issued by Bankole's media adviser, Kayode Odunaro, reads:
"The former Speaker who could not be part of the handing over ceremonies as he was being detained by EFCC following his abduction said Tambuwal's election reflects the wishes of the members of House and by extension the people of Nigeria, adding that the parliament as the bastion of democracy must elect its leadership democratically."
Adeola-Akande swiftly congratulated Tambuwal and wished him well.
Tambuwal's victory has altered Nigeria's power equation as the North now produces the Vice President, Senate President, and Speaker.
Under this arrangement, the South-West no longer holds a key office in the legislature and the executive arms of government, thereby remaining in full opposition.
President Goodluck Jonathan is from Bayelsa State in the South-South zone.
The Man Tambuwal
AMINU Waziri Tambuwal, 45, was born on January 10, 1966 in Tambuwal, Tambuwal Local Council, Sokoto State.
He attended Tambuwal Primary School and proceeded to Government Teachers College, Dongo-Daji, where he obtained his Grade II Certificate in 1984 and proceeded to Usman Dan Fodio University, Sokoto, to study law, where he graduated in 1991 and was called to the Bar in 1992.
Other professional courses he attended are Telecoms Regulatory Master Class in the United Kingdom (UK) and Law-making for the Communications Sector, Johannesburg, South Africa, 2004, Regulating a Competitive Industry in the European Union (EU), Brussels and Tulane University, International Legislative Drafting 2005, Stanford Graduate School of Business, Influence and Negotiation 2008 and KSG Harvard, Infrastructure in Market Economy 2009.
He has served on various committees in the House, such as committees on Rules and Business, Communications, Judiciary, Inter-Parliamentary and Water Resources.
Source: Drama of Tambuwal's coming as Speaker (http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=50497:drama-of-tambuwals-coming-as-speaker&catid=1:national&Itemid=559)