By Ayeotan Shola
The Governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Tambuwal has sparked a row between him and Femi Gbajabiamila with his latest statement.
Tambuwal who is also the Former House of Representatives Speaker revealed why he supported the emergence of Yakubu Dogara over Femi Gbajabiamila.
Dogara became the Speaker on June 9, 2015, despite Gbajabiamila being chosen as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
While receiving leaders of the Sayawa Community of Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas of Bauchi State, he addresed the issue;
“Eight out of ten members of the Body of Principal Officers in the last Assembly supported Dogara’s aspiration. 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.”
“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.”
Dogara’s emergence led to a crisis in the House of Reps which was eventually resolved after Gbajabiamila became Majority Leader.
