From Raji Bello, Sokoto
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal has said that he is still consulting with his primary constituency on whether to contest the nation’s presidency in 2015, or go for a governorship position of his state, Sokoto.
Tambuwal, a member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) also maintained that his stand remains the same as regards whether to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or stay put in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to pursue his ambition.
Tambuwal disclosed this yesterday shortly after collecting his permanent voter card (PVC) at Tambuwal town of the state.
The Speaker also said that he will make his final stand on these topical issues known to Nigerians at the “most appropriate time.”
His words: “I am still consulting my primary constituency on these crucial matters which affect me, Sokoto state and Nigeria generally. I will come back and engage my people. All politics is local,” he declared.
Tambuwal had last week consulted former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun state even though details of their parley were not made available to the public.
The Speaker expressed happiness with the peaceful and successful conduct of the distribution of permanent voter card exercise by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
He said, “I feel happy as a patriotic citizen of Nigeria by collecting my card today and all Nigerians must diligently exercise their civic duties.
“INEC deserves commendation as it is not easy to manage the electoral process in a country where there is the dearth of adequate power supply and ICT infrastructure.
“It is an improvement on the past exercises and INEC should actually assert its independence in action and not only on paper,” Tambuwal, averred.
Tambuwal also revealed that the National Assembly had put the commission on a first line charge to make it truly financially independent.
He said that such independence was meant to be real and actual, with a view to improving on its performance.
According to Tambuwal, a public hearing would soon be conducted by the National Assembly on the proposed amendment to the subsisting Electoral Act.
He said that the aim was to conduct free, fair, credible and acceptable 2015 polls, starting from getting a credible voters’ registers.
Tambuwal stated, “If we get it right now, we will get credible voters’ registers and credible 2015 polls.”
On the final report of the just-concluded National Conference, the Speaker stated that it would be subjected to due legislative process.
On insecurity, Tambuwal commended the nation’s security agencies for performing diligently, “in spite of all the odds.”
The Speaker maintained that the security personnel deserved improved funding, better accommodation, training, re-training and modern security gadgets, arms and ammunition, amongst others
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