By Danlami Nmodu
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal has faulted Osun state chapter of Peoples Democratic Party,PDP which has questioned the rationale behind his visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola recently. A statement today by Malam Imam Imam special adviser on media and Public Affairs to the Speaker said, “It is not the intention of the Speaker to join issues with any person or group, however, it has become imperative to state the fact that as the Number Four citizen in the country, The Speaker is national figure who must be seen to be above partisan considerations at all times.
He added that, “ The Speaker is a leader and rallying point for all Nigerians, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic consideration. The composition of members of the House is a testament to this fact”
The statement recalled that Tambuwal had equally visited another governor in opposition earlier .Said he, “It should be noted that before Osun was not the first state under the control of the opposition that the Speaker visited for a function, and paid a courtesy call to its Governor. A week before the trip to Osun, he paid a courtesy visit to an ANPP Governor, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, when he paid a condolence visit to the State to condole with Hon Ibrahim Gusau and IG of Police MD Abubakar.
“ As the Speaker noted during his visit, Nigerians must learn to know that there is time for politics, and a time for governance.
“The Speaker wish to reiterate that he is a member of the PDP and will continue to work assiduously for the progress of the party at all times.
The full text of Tambuwal’s reply to Osun PDP reads thus:
The attention of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has been to a press statement credited to the Osun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP, where it condemned the Speaker for paying a courtesy visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola last Saturday.
The press statement, purportedly written by the spokesman of the party in the state, one Diran Odeyemi, also demanded apology from the Speaker for the visit and his subsequent remarks after the visit.
It is not the intention of the Speaker to join issues with any person or group, however, it has become imperative to state the fact that as the Number Four citizen in the country, The Speaker is national figure who must be seen to be above partisan considerations at all times.
The Speaker is a leader and rallying point for all Nigerians, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic consideration. The composition of members of the House is a testament to this fact.
To set the records straight, the Speaker visited Osun to commiserate with former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Patricia Etteh, whose mother was buried same day.
As a sign of his respect to constituted authorities and the people of Osun, he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Aregbesola at the Government House in Osogbo.
It should be noted that before Osun was not the first state under the control of the opposition that the Speaker visited for a function, and paid a courtesy call to it’s Governor. A week before the trip to Osun, he paid a courtesy visit to an ANPP Governor, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, when he paid a condolence visit to the State to condole with Hon Ibrahim Gusau and IG of Police MD Abubakar.
As the Speaker noted during his visit, Nigerians must learn to know that there is time for politics, and a time for governance.
The Speaker wish to reiterate that he is a member of the PDP and will continue to work assiduously for the progress of the party at all times.
Signed
Malam Imam Imam
Special Adviser on Media andPublic Affairs
To the Speaker
