Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has disclosed that the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) strongly opposed Aminu Waziri Tambuwal's candidacy for Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2011, favoring Mulikat Akande-Adeola instead to promote gender inclusion in leadership.
Obasanjo made the revelation on Saturday, January 10, while chairing a leadership colloquium in Abuja organized to mark Tambuwal's 60th birthday.
The event, themed around Nigeria's democratic future, drew high-profile attendees including former President Goodluck Jonathan (who joined virtually), former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President David Mark, Peter Obi, and others across party lines.
Recalling the events leading to Tambuwal's election in June 2011, Obasanjo explained that the PDP backed Akande-Adeola, a lawmaker from Oyo State, because "for the first time, a woman had become speaker of the house, she should be encouraged to remain there."
Despite this stance, shared by the then-President Jonathan administration, House members exercised their constitutional independence, rejecting the party's zoning preference and electing Tambuwal, who polled 252 votes against Akande-Adeola's 90.
Obasanjo noted that he and Jonathan ultimately respected the lawmakers' decision.
"Initially, even you were not sure of where we would stand, but we stood with you," he told Tambuwal, praising his humility as a key trait: "Greatness that does not include humility is greatness that is hollow. Your greatness is not hollow."
Tambuwal, a former Speaker (2011–2015), two-term Governor of Sokoto State (2015–2023), and current Senator representing Sokoto South, used the occasion to warn that Nigeria is "in peril" and requires urgent collective salvation through honest leadership, responsible governance, and national unity.
He emphasized that rescue efforts cannot be left to political parties alone but demand involvement from all citizens.
Jonathan, in his virtual remarks, acknowledged past disagreements but commended the strong belief House members had in Tambuwal's leadership.
Akande-Adeola, Tambuwal's 2011 rival, also attended and dismissed any lingering resentment, stating, "Only what God wills comes to pass. There is no animosity among us."
The colloquium highlighted Tambuwal's journey in public service and served as a platform for reflection on democratic strengthening, with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu sending congratulations for his contributions to Sokoto State and the nation.
This candid reflection on the 2011 contest underscores a pivotal moment when the legislature asserted its autonomy against party dictates, a rare occurrence in Nigeria's Fourth Republic.
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