Tambuwal’s choice of Dogara: I have moved on, says Gbajabiamila

By Ikenna Asomba
the majority leader of the House of Representatives, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Wednesday, said he wished the former Speaker and Governor of Sokoto State, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal well in his future ‘political’ undertakings.
Reacting to comments credited to his one-time boss and ally, Tambuwal on Monday, where he was quoted as saying that he supported the current Speaker, Hon. Yakubu Dogara to clinch the Speakership of the House ahead Gbajabiamila because the former was more competent and
had better leadership skills, Gbajabiamila who represents Surulere 1 Constituency in the House‎, tweeted via his handle @femigbaja “Alhaji Tambuwal has finally spoken. For me I have moved on and I can only wish him the best in his future undertakings.”

Recall that ‎while speaking for the first time on his role in the House leadership election, Mr. Tambuwal gave reasons why he fully supported Dogara ahead of Gbajabiamila, when leaders of Sayawa Community of Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas of Bauchi State, (Dogara’s constituency) paid him a “thank you” visit to show appreciation to him for supporting Mr. Dogara.
The former Speaker was quoted to have said: “The issue of competence led eight out of 10 members of the body of Principal Officers of the 7th Assembly” to endorse Mr. Dogara.”
Dogara is more competent, accommodating and more capable to lead than Mr. Gbajabiamila, Mr. Tambuwal said, and added “sentiments have to be put aside”.
‎Explaining further his reasons for supporting Dogara, the Sokoto strongman said: “this is the survival of the legislature as an important arm of government made it imperative that competent hands are headhunted to be its leaders”.
“Eight out of ten members of the Body of Principal Officers in the last Assembly supported Dogara’s aspiration,” he said. “Only Hon Femi (Gbajabiamila) and Hon Datti Ahmad supported Femi.”
“I have strong affinity with Hon Femi. He was closer to me than Dogara. But when talking about leadership and collective decisions, sentiments have to be put aside. I’m not here to tell you that my support made Dogara the Speaker, no. Two things made Dogara to become the Speaker, one is God and two, Dogara’s competence.
He continued, “The acknowledgement of Dogara’s competence did not start with me. It started from the time of Hon Patricia and Etteh and Hon Dimeji Bankole when they entrusted him with a sensitive position of the Chairman of House Services Committee.
“The committee is one of the most sensitive in the legislature. Apart from taking care of the welfare of members, the committee oversees all procurement processes. As the Speaker, I only did what my predecessors did by giving Dogara this sensitive position.
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