Why I Regret Backing Tambuwal For Speaker In 2011 - Gbajabiamila
Femi Gbajabiamila, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, says he regrets supporting the process that led to Aminu Tambuwal's appointment as Speaker in 2011.
During the meeting with the representatives-elect, Gbajabiamila urged the newly elected members not to deviate from the party's decision on the zoning formula for the leadership of the House of Representatives.
He emphasized that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is supreme and their loyalty should remain unquestionable.
Speaking passionately to the members-elect, Gbajabiamila highlighted the significance of party loyalty and consistency in one's political career.
He disclosed that his own journey serves as a testament to the impact of such dedication. Referring to the limitations of independent candidacy in Nigeria, he emphasized the importance of the party as an organized structure.
Gbajabiamila stated, "Your party is always supreme. You will disagree with your party just like people will disagree among family members, but at the end of the day, the party is an organized structure. Let no one kid you. I am here to offer advice. I have been the pioneer leader of what they call the house project at one time when we installed Tambuwal as the speaker. I regret it."
It is noteworthy that in 2015, Yakubu Dogara was elected as the speaker of the House, a decision that went against the preference of the APC.
At that time, Gbajabiamila was the ruling party's preferred candidate. However, the APC successfully achieved its objective in 2019 when Gbajabiamila was elected to the position of Speaker, making him the fourth most influential figure in the country.
Addressing concerns of potential imposition, Gbajabiamila stressed that nominating a candidate for the House leadership position should not be seen as compromising the legislature's independence.
He assured the representatives-elect that he would never compromise the autonomy of the legislative body. He further explained that following the party's direction does not equate to surrendering their independence.
Drawing from personal experiences, Gbajabiamila shared his journey and the challenges he faced within the party. He recounted his bid for the speakership in 2015, which was endorsed by the APC.
Despite widespread expectations of victory, he lost by a mere six votes due to a few party members who worked against him, joining forces with the opposition party at the time. However, Gbajabiamila persevered, running again four years later and securing a historic win with 284 votes, the highest ever recorded in the Nigerian parliament.