Tunde Omolehin, Sokoto
Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has reacted to the former President Goodluck Jonathan’s revelation during the launch of his book, in Abuja, on the circumstances that led him (Tambuwal) and others to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to then opposition, the All Progressives Congress (APC), ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Speaking through his Director-General, Media and Publicity, Abubakar Shekara, the governor said contrary to Jonathan’s claim, he never defected because of any ‘blinded ambition’ as stated in the book.
Abubakar Shekara, who spoke with journalists, in Sokoto noted, “Tambuwal and others who defected from the PDP to APC were just responding to the wishes of the people.
“If he had blind ambition, he would have retain the number four position he had at hand. He rather jettisoned his comfort position to run for governorship.”
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Justifying Tambuwal’s return to PDP, Shekara said, “it is clear that PDP has learnt their lessons and today, the table has turned, APC has become PDP.”
He restated that Governor Tambuwal returned to PDP was a matter of engaging a platform to salvage Nigeria, as political parties are not based on ideology.
Another of Tambuwal’s aide, Hon. Akibu Dalhatu, also exonerated the former Speaker of the House of Representatives from the failure of Goodluck Jonathan to win the 2015 Presidential election.
Also speaking, Hon. Akibu Dalhatu, who is Special Adviser on Public Enlightenment and Mobilization to Governor Tambuwal, hinged the failure of PDP and Goodluck Jonathan to misuse of power and impunity, that then, were the order of the day.
Recalled that former President Goodluck Jonathan had fingered Tambuwal, in his book, My Transition Hours, as one of those that contributed to the failure of his re-election bid, by convening the House of Representatives on a Sunday, in the heat of nationwide protest against removal of petroleum subsidy, leading to hike in fuel price.
Defending Tambuwal, Akibu said, “For the Speaker to convene the House of Representatives, on Sunday, was because they have matter of urgency to deliberate on and for the fact that former President Goodluck Jonathan stated that it had never happened before, there is always a first time in everything.
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“To the best of my knowledge, the House convened on a Sunday, basically because of a matter of public importance that has to do with hike in fuel price, which Nigerians outrightly rejected.
“Did such protest not called for matter of urgent importance or should they have folded their arms and allow protesters throw the nation into chaos?” he asked.
He pointed out that the deliberations and resolutions of the House was overwhelmingly applauded by Nigerians, irrespective of the day they sat, and till date, there has never been any dissenting voice, until this mere expression by the former President.
Akibu posited that, “be that as it may, the duo today, bears no grudges or animosity towards each other.”