Zoning: Reps Caution Obasanjo Over Tambuwal

Members of the House of Representatives have cautioned former President Olusegun Obasanjo to desist from making inflammatory statements about the Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal.

Obasanjo had recently asked Tambuwal to step down because, according to him, his(Speaker’s) emergence was contrary to the zoning policy of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which zoned the speakership slot to the South-West.

But a member of the House, Hon. Kawu Samaila, in an interview with the Hausa Service of the British Broadcasting Service (BBC) reminded the former president that the emergence of Tambuwal cut across the political parties as well as other considerations. He added the House had independently elected its speaker and not at the instance of the PDP.

Samaila said, “Tambuwal and all principal officers were elected by the whole members, based on the constitution guiding the chamber. They were chosen based on the constitutional rights of our members. And so there is no single person in Nigeria or political party that can remove them except if they violate any sections of the 1999 Constitution, even with that until members constituting two-thirds deem it fit before they can be removed”.

Another lawmaker, Ibrahim Bello, also said, “this is our Speaker and leaders whom we have chosen. We didn’t give them a tenure after which they are expected to vacate to balance whatever zoning arrangement.

Another member, Hon. Shaibu Banda, said, “If Obasanjo knows the efficacy of zoning, why did he allow his political son to contest the last election in spite of zoning? Why then meddle in our own matter with the intention to gag us?”