2015: Tambuwal opts out of presidential ticket bid

2015: Tambuwal opts out of presidential ticket bid

Speaker likely for Sokoto governor
House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal spoke yesterday on his political future.
He suspended his presidential ambition as a sacrifice for the unity of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Tambuwal said the nation was in urgent need of change, which only the APC could offer.
He said he joined the APC to build the party and would not want his presidential aspiration to cause disunity among members.
In the Speaker’s view, the presidential aspirants: Ex-Head of State Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, ex-Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso, Governor Rochas Okorocha and Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah are eminently qualified to lead the nation.
There were strong indications that Tambuwal might gun for the APC ticket to contest as governor. He did not speak on this yesterday.
Tambuwal, in a statement in Abuja, said: “When upon genuine conviction I decided to commence extensive consultations towards taking a decision as to whether or not to participate in the contest for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, it was not to actualise a personal ambition, but rather to actualise our dream for a new Nigeria.
“ Ever since news of the possibility of my participation in the presidential contest got into the public domain, it has generated monumental interest, analyses and commentaries. I have also, both personally and through prominent leaders across party lines and beyond, consulted extensively and I must say that I am overwhelmed by the outpouring of support and interest.
”I have carefully considered the concerns expressed by some of our leaders, whom I deeply respect and whose support and counsel I enjoy, to the effect that my entry into the presidential race at this point may necessitate having to rework some equations on the political chessboard of the party.
“Having consulted widely, taking into consideration the concerns of some elders of the party, I have decided to suspend my participation in the presidential contest for now.
“I have done so as a sacrifice for the cohesion and unity of the APC. I am suspending my participation in the presidential race for now because I do not have any inordinate ambition to occupy any office.
“Nigeria is a country too great to sacrifice on the altar of partisan politics and personal ambition. What any one becomes in life is exclusively in the hands of God. Only God gives power to whoever he pleases.
“I pledge my loyalty to our party the APC and cooperation with my uncles and senior brothers and colleagues who are already in the race for the APC presidential ticket : I refer to General Muhammadu Buhari, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, Governor Rochas Okorocha and Mr. Sam Nda- Isaiah. There is no doubt that they are all eminently qualified.”
Tambuwal pleaded with the 80 members of the House, his associates and friends who bought a nomination form for him to accept his decision in good faith.
Tambuwal added: “I came into the APC to enhance and build. Therefore, in the interest of our great party, the APC, and indeed in the overriding national interest, I wish to appeal to all my associates, colleagues, supporters, admirers and friends nationwide to show some understanding.
“ It has not been easy coming to this decision and I very well understand the frustration, disappointment and disbelief of many who have committed so much to the project, including sacrificing not only their physical, financial and intellectual resources but indeed their personal ambitions in the 2015 electoral contest.”
“I wish to seize this occasion to commend, most highly, these patriotic and selfless colleagues, admirers, individuals and groups for their sacrifice, diligence and single-mindedness in the pursuit of what they honestly believe is in the best interest of our fatherland.
“ I am fully aware of the physical, financial and intellectual resources all of you have expended in this regard besides the sheer volume of valuable time and the travel risk of crisscrossing to compare notes and confirm projections. Indeed I can not thank you enough.
“To all my associates, colleagues, friends, admirers across Nigeria who have faith that I am that instrument for the change we all desire, I assure you that your faith is not in vain, it is noble and will endure until this great nation of ours is rescued from the clutches of institutionalised corruption, gross incompetence, greed and divisiveness.
“I charge you to be comforted that your strength lies not in the limited capacity of a single leader, but rather in the collective capacity of the millions of great citizens of this nation. One day, and I believe not too long away, this formidable collective capacity will be ignited and the good Lord will lift Nigeria high up where she belongs.”
The Speaker said he was prepared to work with APC leaders and members to rescue Nigeria from the brink.
He added: “ On my part and with the greatest sense of modesty and responsibility, I wish to assure Nigerians that I am fully prepared, ready, willing, determined, available and armed with the requisite plans, programmes and ability, to undertake the great mission of rescuing our dear country from the clutches of institutionalized corruption, gross incompetence, greed and divisiveness.
“ I am prepared for the great task of rescuing Nigeria from the security problems, the scandalous youth unemployment, and the economic and social malaise that plague her.
“Given the opportunity, ours would be a clean, corrupt- free, competent and purposeful government : to deal with the inexplicable paradoxes that have held us hostage for over a hundred years : the paradox of ever growing abject poverty in the midst of plenty; the paradox of ever growing menace of corruption in the face of the collective capacity of Nigerians to eradicate same, the paradox of decaying infrastructure, especially epileptic power supply in the face of abundant natural resources; the paradox of glaring internal insecurity in the face of a gallant military, police and other security agencies that have excelled in peace keeping and enforcement abroad. Indeed a government that would deploy extraordinary ways and means where such becomes inevitable within the ambit of the law.”
He said although Nigerians had become dejected with teamwork by APC administration, the nation’s developmental problems were surmountable.
He said: “The problems I speak about are real and glaring. Over the past three and a half years of presiding over 359 equals, I often had occasion to discuss peculiar constituency problems with my colleagues but most importantly I have visited over 300 hundred Federal constituencies across the country and seen for myself abject poverty of our people particularly the majority of the population that reside in the rural areas, I have experienced, first hand, total absence of essential social facilities and decaying infrastructure, where they exist at all, and observed hopelessness in the eyes of millions of citizens. I deeply feel the pulse of dejection of our people.
“I am convinced that with the progressive spirit and teamwork these objectives are attainable under an All Progressive Congress ( APC ) administration.”
There were indications last night that Tambuwal might vie for the governorship race in Sokoto State.
A source said: “I think the governorship ticket might be conceded to him in Sokoto State in appreciation of his sacrifice.