Ex-Speaker reveals why he supported Dogara over Gbajabiamila

monjola sotubo

August 12, 2015 11:31 AM

Dogara became the Speaker on June 9, 2015, despite Gbajabiamila being chosen as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto

Former House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal has revealed why he supported the emergence of Yakubu Dogara as his successor instead of Femi Gbajabiamila.

Dogara became the Speaker on June 9, 2015, despite Gbajabiamila being chosen as the sole candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Tambuwal, now the Governor of Sokoto, commented on the issue on Monday, August 10, while receiving leaders of the Sayawa Community of Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government Areas of Bauchi State.

He said:

“Eight out of ten members of the Body of Principal Officers in the last Assembly supported Dogara’s aspiration. Only Hon Femi (Gbajabiamila) and Hon Datti Ahmad supported Femi.”

“I have strong affinity with Hon Femi. He was closer to me than Dogara. But when talking about leadership and collective decisions, sentiments have to be put aside. I’m not here to tell you that my support made Dogara the Speaker, no. Two things made Dogara to become the Speaker, one is God and two, Dogara’s competence.”

“The acknowledgement of Dogara’s competence did not start with me. It started from the time of Hon Patricia and Etteh and Hon Dimeji Bankole when they entrusted him with a sensitive position of the Chairman of House Services Committee.”

Dogara’s emergence led to a crisis in the House of Reps which was eventually resolved after Gbajabiamila became Majority Leader.

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Watch video of reps fighting over leadership positions below:

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