In a stunning political revelation, former Nigerian leaders Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan have admitted they actively worked against the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011. The disclosure came during a leadership colloquium held to celebrate Tambuwal's 60th birthday at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel in Abuja.
The Party's Stance and the Parliamentary Rebellion
Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, who later chaired the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, explained that the party's hierarchy, including himself and then-President Goodluck Jonathan, preferred the candidacy of Mulikat Akande-Adeola. Their opposition to Tambuwal and his deputy, Emeka Ihedioha, was rooted in party discipline and a strategic desire to promote gender inclusion in the National Assembly's leadership.
"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 stated, referencing the PDP's official candidate. However, he acknowledged that the rebellion by PDP lawmakers was a powerful demonstration of parliamentary independence. "But your members thought otherwise, and you made your decision. And we supported your decision," he told the gathering, noting that the party ultimately stood with the lawmakers' choice.
Recollections from the Executive and the Senate
Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, who was President at the time, also addressed the event, recalling the inevitable tensions between the executive and the legislature during Tambuwal's tenure as Speaker. "When he was Speaker, I was the President, and we had some disagreements," Jonathan said. He was quick to praise Tambuwal's unifying leadership, stating, "One thing I must give to Tambuwal is that members of the House believed so much in him. He held the House together."
Adding another layer to the story, former Senate President David Mark recounted how the rebellious House members directly confronted him. "They came to me and said, 'Sir, whether you like it or not, you are adopting us as your sons,'" Mark revealed. The lawmakers informed him they would emerge as Speaker and Deputy Speaker regardless of the party's position and insisted he sponsor them. "For once, Mr President, I disobeyed you," Mark said, addressing Jonathan.
A Gathering of Titans and a Call for Reflection
The event served as a reunion of Nigeria's political elite. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar described Tambuwal as "a leader in the making," while ex-Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi commended his commitment to national unity and consensus-building. Notably, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, who lost the 2011 vote to Tambuwal, expressed no bitterness, affirming, "Only what God wills comes to pass. There is no animosity among us."
In his address, the celebrant, Senator Aminu Tambuwal, expressed deep concern over growing public apathy toward government and emphasized the urgent need to reflect on the negative practice of imposing leaders on the people. The high-profile event was attended by a who's-who of Nigerian politics, including representatives of Senate President Godswill Akpabio, former Speakers, serving and former governors, ministers, and prominent clergy like Bishop Matthew Hassan Kukah.
