THE Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, yesterday accepted the presidential
nomination form bought for him by 80 members of the House, friends and associates.
He, however, said he would make his final position known to Nigerians.
But it was learnt from one of his key strategists that Tambuwal has made up his mind to vie for the office
instead of the governorship poll.
The strategist said the Speaker was delaying in making any declaration because he ought to finalize
consultations with past Heads of State and Government, some key leaders, royal fathers and governors.
The Speaker’s residence at Danube Street in Maitama District, Abuja was a beehive of activities as members
of the House jostled for space to present the nomination form to him.
The event was delayed until about 4.45pm, following pressure from many members to witness the
ceremony.
Clad in white babanriga, white cap and shoes, the elated Speaker admitted that he was overwhelmed by the
show of love of the members.
He said: “My dear friends, I must say that I am moved by this show of love, commitment to the course of
the oneness of Nigeria and the progress of the Federal Republic of Nigeria ably demonstrated this evening by
my friends across the divide of this country.
“This discussion about whether Aminu Waziri Tambuwal should run for this or that has been on for some
time.
“As I was about to round off my consultations, these my friends came in to say we were drafting you into
this. I thank you most sincerely for your kind words and for identifying me as such a personality that in your
belief possessed some of these qualities that the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is expected to
have.
‘I’m humbled by this gesture’
“I am humbled by this gesture. I must say that this is almost akin to what happened in 2011 after our
general elections when I left my Federal Constituency of Kebbe/Tambuwal to Abuja and my colleagues in the
House of Representatives and several Nigerians, in consideration for the need for us to have a stable,
focused and progressive House of Representative, decided that I should come and serve as the Speaker of
the House of Representatives.
“To God be the glory and with every sense of responsibility, we have done fairly well as the leadership of the
House of Representatives. I am sure that part of what you have done as part of the traits of leadership in me
is coming from what we have been able to do in the House of Representatives.
“Therefore, I will thank my 359 colleagues in the House of Representatives that have showcased me and
given me the support to get to where I am today for me to be considered by these very well-meaning
Nigerians to contest and vie for the most coveted office in the federation.
“Having heard what you have said, I have accepted to collect this nomination form and go and conclude my
consultations and come back to Nigerians soonest on what should be my final position on this matter”.
Earlier, the spokesman of the members, Engr. Peter Ede from the Ezza North/Ishelu Federal Constituency of
Ebonyi State described the Speaker as a unifier.
He said in view of “what is happening in Nigeria today, the lawmakers believe that Tambuwal possesses the
right quality to lead the country.”
‘We’re here on
behalf of Nigerians’
Hon. Ede, who presented the form to the Speaker at about 5.00pm, said: “We are here on behalf of millions
of Nigerians to visit Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
“The reason we are here is because we are of the firm belief that these are uncommon times in Nigeria
because the country is facing enormous challenges and having examined everything that is happening in
Nigeria and convinced of the need to find a solution and take Nigeria into a country of our dreams.
“We have decided to come and urge Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal to consider presenting himself as a candidate
for the office of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. We do this in the conviction that Alhaji
Tambuwal is a unifier.
“His track record as leader and Speaker of the House of Representatives and as a leader in Nigeria, he has
shown that he is a unifier, somebody who can bring the people together and make them work as one,
somebody who can energies Nigerians to fight for the country we all desire.
“This is a leader who, despite all the malaise in the country, has till date not been tinted with the brush of
corruption. It has not been mentioned in connection with him. He is known to be very detribalised. He is
somebody who has travelled throughout this country.
“We are aware that he has visited 340 out of the 360 constituencies in this country. So, he has first-hand
knowledge of the people’s problems because he has seen them first hand and knows their culture. He has
seen and respected their religious beliefs. He is also somebody who relates to everybody with humility and
firmness. Nigeria needs a man of such qualities.
“Nigeria needs a man who can speak truth to power. He is a man who can say a thing and stand by it.
Nigeria needs a man who will be accountable to you and all of us.
“We have found in him these uncommon qualities and we believe that he has the modern world view that
will see us do things differently and confront our problems with new approaches. What we need now is a
paradigm shift. It is not all about age and youthfulness. Those are clauses by the side.
“But we respect his vision about Nigeria; we respect his nationalistic appeal and his ability to weld the
country together. These are qualities we think that the President of Nigeria should have in this era. He is, in
our view, the right person to lead Nigeria at this time.
“Let me also say that within the All Progressives Congress, there are other candidates with good qualities,
but the mix in him is so complete that we think he is the right man to lead Nigeria. All we are doing is to
put him on the shop window for Nigerians to consider, evaluate and make a decision.
“He has to take this request seriously. What we have done is to bring him before the people and ask the
people to see him as a solution to the different challenges we are having today and we believe that by God’s
grace, if he becomes President, this country will change for the better for all.
“The people in this project are from a broad-based coalition, coalition of professionals, legislators, politicians
and people from all shades of life. It is pan-Nigerian project and not a project driven by any segment of the
polity.
“It is a project supported by students, youths, market women, the old, the young, experienced politicians and
people who have the interest of Nigeria at heart. The clerics, regardless of their religious persuasions, are
also behind this project.
“Those who have Nigeria at heart are buying into this project, and we believe that if it becomes successful,
Nigeria would have escaped the problems of the last decade.
“We are asking Aminu Waziri Tambuwal to be our President. We have purchased his nomination form for
him, and we are here to present it to him”.
Some of the members of the House at the session were Edeh, Samuel Adejare, Rotimi Makinde, Emmanuel
Jime, Solomon Adeola, Julius Fakeye, Zakari Mohammed, Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi, John Dyegh, Razaq Bello-
Osagie, Yakubu Dogara, Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, among others.
Immediately after the formal presentation of the form, the Speaker and the members retired into a private
session.
The acceptance of the nomination form put paid to speculations on the 2015 aspiration of the Speaker.
One of his strategists, who spoke with our correspondents last night, said: “The Speaker is going for the
presidency and not governorship poll as being insinuated or propagated by some forces. He has accepted the
nomination form, and all doubting Thomases should get the message once and for all.
“We have done our homework before we concluded that Tambuwal should give the presidency a
consideration. The issue is not about being a dark horse or an underdog. If you look at the history of Nigeria,
underdogs have always been leading the nation.
“You may underrate Tambuwal as a potential presidential candidate, but you cannot ignore the desire of
Nigerians for change now.”
Another source said: “The Speaker has delayed in making a declaration because he wants to finalize
consultations with ex-Heads of State, key leaders nationwide, royal fathers, governors and strategic groups.
“This project is not Tambuwal’s own alone. It is the handiwork of concerned citizens, seeking a genuine
change for the nation. Just wait for it to unfold.” thenationonlineng.net/new/2015-poll-reps-meet-tambuwal-with-nomination-form/

Let's fold our hands nd watch

To all of u shouting Jonathan has fail, let me ask what happen when a student fail a course/class? he or she repeat.


Jonathan till 2019

either tambuwal,buhari,kwankwaso and atiku this people are not bad what will need is credible leader not d clueless President we av at d center.APC will win convincely in 2015 elections we are ready we av our PVC cards forget ooooo. we need credible leader not corrupt leader .