2015 Presidency: We’ll Back Tambuwal If He Decides To Contest - Reps

In an apparent response to speculation that the speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Tambuwal, is gearing up to run for president in 2015, the House of Representatives has stated that it would back him if he decided to realise the dream.

Deputy spokesman of the House Hon. Victor Ogene (APGA, Anambra) told National Assembly correspondents over the weekend that Tambuwal had displayed worthy leadership qualities that show he would make a fine president and that if Nigerians asked him to run for the office, he wouldn’t turn the request down.

According to Ogene, the speaker has been able to hold a hitherto tumultuous House together, despite varying interests and personalities, over the past two years that he assumed speakership of the green chambers.

He said, “As it stands today, Tambuwal has displayed good leadership in the House of Reps. It is only left for Nigerians to determine who will lead them in 2015. Though he has not told us about this, leadership is done by the people.”

On whether the move wouldn’t be considered anti-party by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), considering that he is already being accused of dining with the opposition in spite of being a PDP member, Ogene explained that, in his role as the speaker of the House, he does not have partisan affiliations but works in the interest of all Nigerians.

He also denied knowledge of any investigation of the speaker by the PDP for anti-party activities. “Tambuwal is not a PDP speaker; he is the speaker of the House of Reps. He can relate with any party in the best interest of Nigerians,” he said.

Speaking on the state of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) even after the National Assembly refused to approve the commission’s budget until its director-general, Ms Arunma Oteh, was sacked for incompetence, as resolved by the House, Ogene said the House was watching to see who is providing funds for it, adding that adequate action will be taken at the appropriate time. “Whenever it is discovered that funds are still made available to SEC, we shall take action. The Appropriation Act cannot be breached; it is one of the most important Acts in any democracy. Action will be taken against whoever is found responsible,” he said.

source:leadership