PDP meets, ‘forgives’ Tambuwal, says zoning stays

[TGD]

 WHAT initially appeared like a war song from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following the refusal of its members in the House of Representatives to adhere to the zoning formula in the election of two presiding officers, turned out to be a colourful ceremony after the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal and Emeka Ihedioha respectively had apologised to the party.

The party had zoned the position of Speaker to the South West and the Deputy Speaker to the North East but the two presiding officers defied the arrangement, presented themselves to the chamber last Monday and got elected despite the intimidating presence of the PDP leadership at the gallery of the House of Representatives.

Both Tambuwal and Ihedioha paid a surprise visit to the national secretariat of the party yesterday and tendered an apology, noting that their emergence was an act of destiny. They pledged to cooperate with President Goodluck Jonathan to deliver the party's promises to Nigerians.

"Mr. Chairman we are not unaware of the fact that in the course and the process of the emergence of the leadership in the House of the Representatives, so many things were involved. It came to a point our dear fathers, our leaders in the party were looking for their children and God gave them our meeting. Even though we were not exactly wanted, because we know that we are beloved and loved by our party, we knew that we actually gave you sleepless night.

"As your dear children and as loyal members, we are here this afternoon to give you your due respect and to say here and now that all that we did was not intended in anyway, to either undermine our party or out of disrespect for our party. It was a share coincidence of the history of this country and destiny and providence that from the inauguration of the seventh National Assembly, and the House of Representatives in particular, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from North West, and Emeka Ihedioha from South East, contrary to the hope and aspiration of our party, would emerge as Speaker and Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives. It was designed by God. It was not designed by us.

"We are pleading with our party, to forgive whatever it was that went wrong in the process and continue to accept us because I know that we have not been rejected as your children and continue to guide us in doing only those things that that will promote the unity, harmony prosperity and peace of this country... Mr. chairman, I and my deputy are here to assure you and, indeed, the party, through you, Mr. President, the head of our government, that we shall give our government maximum co-operation, towards ensuring that all the laudable programmes of our party are implemented through good legislation that will come out of the House of Representatives in collaboration with the Senate. We assure you that we shall give cooperation and every support to Mr. President and the government so that our party can deliver on its promises to the electorate. As I said earlier on, Mr. Chairman, we seek your understanding. We seek for your forgiveness, we hereby apologise,'' they said.

Responding on behalf of the National Working Committee (NWC) members, the National Chairman of PDP, Alhaji Bello Haliru Mohammed, lamented that the party was not happy with their action. He said the essence of the zoning arrangement was to ensure fairness and equity in the distribution of political offices and when the time of the election in the House came, the party could not find them for advice. He said that the party had forgiven them but they should work closely with the president.

His words: "Mr. Speaker, you are welcome to your home, the headquarters of the party. You are right; we are not very happy with you at this moment. But we are quite aware that you and your colleagues in the House did not quite work in line with the policy of our party. But you have not left the party.  What has happened has happened, it is a surprise to us. We are not quite comfortable but we have not rejected you. And PDP being a large party, and a collection of different mindsets, we are used to crises in the affairs of our party. We believe in different views and like we said in our statement yesterday, we believe in free choice, for all Nigerians, including members of the National Assembly.

"What has happened may be a breakdown in communication between members of the party and this will not be for the first time.   Fortunately, PDP is a versatile party, and we have got the organisation and the strength to weather all our problems and to work out solutions to whatever misunderstanding that arises within the family. The election of Speaker has happened; I am glad it was free and fair because we observed it even though it didn't go according to the dictate of the party. We are faced with a fait accompli.

What remains now is for the party to use our usual dispute resolution mechanism, to work out the way forward.

"All we want is peace and stability in this country. That is why PDP arrived at zoning. In the process of zoning, we don't look at individuals, We look at the institution because it is only PDP among all the parties in this country that has the zoning policy that assures all parts of this country of fair share of participation in the decision making in the ruling of this country. PDP wants to assure that all zones, all tribes, all religions, big or small, have a say in the formation and the process of governance of this country. That is why we have had zoning and rotation and put it in our constitution.

"I am sure, Mr. Speaker, your election will not mean the end of zoning because even if we don't take zoning as a policy, PDP is a party of equity and fair play. And equity and fair play demand that of the major positions, at the party and the government, each section of this country should have at least one position or the other so that we can achieve peace and stability. I know, Mr. Speaker, you wouldn't go out of your way to spite your party.  That is why I said earlier what happened came to us as a surprise. But the circumstances that

warranted what has happened in the House of Representatives will be carefully studied by the party. And we will reach amicable settlement of whatever issues that are outstanding".

The chairman then told them to allow the party to fill other vacant positions in the House. "Now that what has happened has happened, the remaining positions in the House, you should allow the party to look at how we can balance it so that the other zones are taken care of before we come back to you to give you the chance to lead your people in electing to reflect balance in the leadership of the House."



Source: The Guardian.