Tambuwal: Bridge builder and the ultimate prize

Paying dues stands the Governor of Sokoto State, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in good stead among his peers. The lawyer politician needs no introduction in Nigeria’s political environment on this score alone.

Tambuwal’s immediate past as Speaker of the House of Representatives was replete with turbulence but himself and his colleagues tried to navigate the ship of state to berth on a suitable harbour. His deft skills in conflict management and resolutions also stood him out, making him one of the most reliable state officials to the then-president Goodluck Jonathan who counted so much on his House leadership style to bring the lower chamber of the National Assembly in sync with the Executive Branch. It goes beyond saying that Tambuwal brought unity and peace to bear on the House with the sole aim of engendering a good working relationship between his arm of the legislature and the executive during the Jonathan era. To his credit, devolution of power reigned in the House during his speakership, resulting in a smooth and conflict-free administration.

Tambuwal’s bridge-building expertise in wielding different ethnic and religious groups together while he was the Speaker attested to his leadership skills and a deep sense of the future in his political career. As a fact, his leadership of the House embraced every member from the country’s geo-political zones such that no one felt marginalised, especially in decision-making. Irrespective of where the members came from, equity and fairness were always considered in governance around the constituencies. The Jonathan government drew its inspiration as well as success from the strides attained by the House of Representatives under the Tambuwal leadership.

Interestingly, there have been few comments, if at all, on the resounding excellent relationship between Tambuwal and his deputy, Hon Emeka Ihedioha. Yet, the relationship has since formed the fulcrum on which leadership of the House of Representatives should be built if the overall objective of good governance must be achieved. So smooth was this relationship at the time that some commentators had alerted the nation to look for a renewal of the partnership at the Presidency sometime in the future. Of course, it has also served as another plaudit for Tambuwal in his effort to especially entrench the connection between the north and south of Nigeria.

The wise investment of trust in Ihedioha seems to have yielded a fruitful dividend for Tambuwal. Today, the people of the southeast see the native of Tambuwal village in Sokoto state as a veritable bridge-builder who could be trusted with higher office, having been well tested as a Federal lawmaker and a two-term governor.

In addition to the excellent performance by Tambuwal as the Sokoto state Governor since 2015, few would be surprised that he is now taking a shot at the Presidency, beginning by contesting with others at the looming presidential primary election of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). At this point when the Nigerian people thirst for honest and sincere leadership with vision, he can only add his experience to emerge as the party’s flagbearer at the primaries.

At this critical period in the country’s history when poor leadership has polarised the people in the past seven years, a bridge builder of Tambuwal’s standing cannot be overemphasized as the one that can return the country to its past glory.