The governorship battle in Sokoto state is
going to be a family affair ─ if you will ─
but Abdallah Wali and Aminu Tambuwal will
have to prove that blood is thicker than
politics to avoid a bitter kindred feud in the
February 21, 2015 poll.
Wali, Nigeria’s ambassador to Morocco,
picked the ticket of the Peoples Democratic
Party (PDP) on Monday, and will now come
face to face with his brother-in-law,
Tambuwal, who picked the flag of the All
Progressives Congress (APC) last week.
Tambuwal, a monogamist, is married to
Wali’s sister ─ “same father, same mother”
as Nigerians would say.
But there is yet another strong bond
between them: it was Wali who introduced
Tambuwal to national politics in 1999 when
he brought the young man all the way from
Sokoto to Abuja.
Wali, who was a senator and senate leader,
appointed Tambuwal as his senior
legislative assistant in 1999. Tambuwal had
played his own role in Wali’s election, so it
was a good reward.
That marked the beginning of Tambuwal’s
foray into Abuja politics. By 2003, he was
elected into the house of representatives,
having defected from the PDP to ANPP for
strategic reasons. He would go on to
become speaker in 2011 on returning to the
PDP, and he has Wali to thank for giving
him a head start in national politics.
But Wali also owes Tambuwal ─ his
nomination as ambassador to Morocco was
done by the speaker. One good turn
deserving another, that is. Wali was easily
cleared by the senate, enjoying the privilege
accorded former senators.
Both candidates are from Tambuwal local
government in Sokoto state.
The election promises to be a family affair
with a difference: on whose side will
Tambuwal’s wife be? Would she rather
be the “first lady” or the "first sister”?
If you were in her shoes, on whose side would you be?

This is so interesting. A husband and a brother! What a tough decision. Wish her well. May God bless Nigeria.

First Lady jooor! If na u nko?

First Lady is sure the one she will prefer. Fingers crossed.