Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that he and former President Goodluck Jonathan actively opposed the emergence of Aminu Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011, citing party discipline and a desire to sustain gender inclusion in legislative leadership.
Obasanjo made the revelation in Abuja recently during a leadership colloquium marking the 60th birthday of Tambuwal, a former Speaker and Governor of Sokoto State.
The event drew a who’s who of Nigerian political heavyweights, including former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, former Senate President David Mark, and Adams Oshiomhole, among others.
A Clash of Wills
Explaining the 2011 standoff, Obasanjo stated that the opposition was driven by two key considerations. “Our thinking was that if, for the first time, a woman had become Speaker of the House, she should be encouraged to remain there,” he said, referencing the candidacy of Mulikat Akande-Adeola from the South-West, who was the party’s preferred choice.
Despite pressure from the Presidency and the then-ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Tambuwal, then a second-term lawmaker from the North-West, secured a decisive victory, polling 252 votes to Akande-Adeola’s 90.
Obasanjo acknowledged that the lawmakers’ decision was a powerful assertion of constitutional independence. “But your members thought otherwise, and you made your decision. And we supported your decision. Initially, even you were not sure of where we would stand, but we stood with you,” he told the celebrant.
Corroboration from Key Players
Former President Jonathan, who spoke virtually, corroborated Obasanjo’s account, admitting to disagreements with Tambuwal during his tenure. “When he was Speaker, I was the President, and we had some disagreements. But one thing I must give to Tambuwal is that members of the House believed so much in him,” Jonathan said, praising Tambuwal’s leadership in holding the House together.
The most vivid insider account came from former Senate President David Mark, who detailed how Tambuwal and his deputy conscripted him into their rebellion. “They came to me and said, ‘Sir, whether you like it or not, you are adopting us as your sons. They told me clearly that… they would emerge Speaker and Deputy Speaker and that I would sponsor them,’” Mark recalled.
He humorously confessed to deliberately ignoring pressure from the party leadership on the eve of the election, stating, “For once, Mr President, I disobeyed you.”
A Celebrant’s Call for National Reflection
In his remarks, Tambuwal struck a sober note on the state of the nation, describing Nigeria as being at a critical point in need of salvation from years of missteps. He argued that national recovery must rise above personal ambition, ethnic sentiment, or party politics.
The event also featured tributes from other political leaders. Atiku Abubakar described Tambuwal as “a leader in the making,” while Peter Obi praised him as a consensus builder committed to national unity.
Reflecting on the journey, Obasanjo lauded Tambuwal’s humility, stating, “Greatness that does not include humility is greatness that is hollow. Your greatness is not hollow.”
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