Nigeria is in peril, needs collective effort for salvation – Tambuwal

Why Jonathan and I opposed Tambuwal’s emergence as Speaker in 2011 – Obasanjo

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives and Senator representing Sokoto South, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, has warned that Nigeria has reached a dangerous crossroads, insisting that the country is “in peril” and urgently in need of collective salvation through honest leadership, responsible governance and national unity.

Tambuwal made the remarks on Saturday at a leadership colloquium and his 60th birthday celebration, an event that brought together former and serving national leaders, past governors, lawmakers and political actors across party lines.

According to Tambuwal, Nigeria’s current condition represents a painful departure from the vision and sacrifices of its founding fathers, stressing that meaningful recovery can only begin when Nigerians admit that something is fundamentally wrong with the way the country is governed.

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“Where we are today is unfortunate. This is not where we expected to be,” he said.

“Those who laid the foundation for this democracy, some of whom are alive, many of whom are no longer living, are not happy, even in their graves, with the current situation in Nigeria.”

He described the present state of the nation as deeply troubling, not only to conscientious citizens alive today but also to those who laboured in the past to build the country.

Tambuwal argued that national rescue must rise above personal ambition, ethnic sentiment and party politics, warning against political practices that weaken institutions and democratic growth.

“It is about the people of this country. It is about good governance. It is not about me. It is not about money-making,” he said.

“We must end the tendency where people gain access to public office only to impose successors who are worse than themselves.”

He said Nigeria’s salvation could not be left to political parties alone but required the active involvement of all citizens.

“Nigeria is in peril, and we are searching for salvation. And that salvation is a collective process.

“We are citizens of this country. We have nowhere else to go. We must remain in Nigeria and ensure that we do the right thing so that we can have the right leadership.”

The former Speaker said he was now prepared to take greater personal risks in defence of democratic governance and national renewal.

“At this point in my life, I must recommit myself to what I have always believed in. I recommit myself to working with every Nigerian who believes in good democratic governance and in turning this country around.”

Earlier in his remarks, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who was the Chairman of the event, shed light on why he and then-President Goodluck Jonathan opposed Tambuwal’s emergence as Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011.

Obasanjo said the opposition was driven by party considerations and a desire to sustain gender inclusion in legislative leadership, following the People’s Democratic Party’s backing of Mulikat Akande-Adeola.

“Our thinking was that if, for the first time, a woman had become Speaker of the House, she should be encouraged to remain there,” Obasanjo said.

Tambuwal, then a second-term lawmaker and former Deputy Chief Whip from the North-West, defeated Akande-Adeola, a Yoruba lawmaker from the South-West, polling 252 votes to her 90 out of 340 votes cast.

Despite not enjoying the support of the Jonathan administration, Tambuwal benefited from the backing of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), then led by Bola Tinubu, marking one of the rare moments in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic when the legislature openly defied executive preference.

Obasanjo said lawmakers exercised their constitutional independence and that both he and Jonathan ultimately respected the outcome.

“Your members thought otherwise, and you made your decision. And we supported your decision,” he said.

“One thing I saw in you was humility. Greatness without humility is hollow. Your greatness is not hollow.”

On his part, former President Goodluck Jonathan, who spoke virtually, confirmed there were disagreements between the executive and the House during Tambuwal’s tenure but acknowledged his leadership strength.

“When he was Speaker, I was the President, and we had some disagreements,” Jonathan said.

“But one thing I must give to Tambuwal is that members of the House believed so much in him. He held the House together.”

Also, former Senate President David Mark gave a dramatic account of how Tambuwal and his deputy approached him ahead of the 2011 election.

“They came to me and said, ‘Sir, whether you like it or not, you are adopting us as your sons,’” Mark recalled.

“They told me clearly that whether the President and the party wanted them or not, they would emerge Speaker and Deputy Speaker.”

Mark said he deliberately ignored pressure from the PDP leadership on the eve of the election.

“For once, Mr President, I disobeyed you,” he said, drawing laughter from the audience.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, who cut short a vacation abroad to attend the event, described Tambuwal as “a leader in the making” and urged him to live up to national expectations.

Former Anambra State governor, Peter Obi, praised Tambuwal as a bridge-builder committed to consensus, justice and national unity.

Former Edo State governor and ex-APC National Chairman Adams Oshiomhole commended Tambuwal’s ability to manage a politically fragmented House and recalled how the former Speaker personally visited him after the death of his wife.

Tambuwal’s 2011 rival, Mulikat Akande-Adeola, dismissed claims of lingering animosity.

“Only what God wills comes to pass. Tambuwal has been the Speaker and a leader. There is no animosity among us,” she said.

Former Ekiti State governor, Kayode Fayemi, warned that democracy was under threat globally, citing coups and democratic breakdowns across Africa, and urged Nigeria to protect legislative independence.

The event attracted a wide range of political figures, including Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senate Minority Leader Abba Moro; Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese Matthew Hassan Kukah; former Speakers Patricia Etteh and Yakubu Dogara; Senator Eyinnaya Abaribe; Minister of Housing Ahmed Musa Dangiwa; and former governors Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Masari, Udom Emmanuel, Ibikunle Amosun, Gbenga Daniel, as well as former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha and ADC National Secretary Rauf Aregbesola.