SAN FRANCISCO, September 04, (THEWILL) – The 57 members of the House of Representatives already in the camp of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje- led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Wednesday declared that the Speaker of the House, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, is in their camp.
The 57 lawmakers out of the 205 PDP members in the House had Tuesday issued a statement declaring their support for Baraje and the seven governors in the new PDP.
Speaker Tambuwal and other principal officers are presently attending the Pan African Parliament (PAP) conference in South Africa.
Though Tambuwal’s name was not among the lawmakers from Sokoto State in the new faction of the party,the Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon.Zakari Mohammed ( PDP, Kwara), said “Tambuwal is a man of the majority and therefore naturally belongs to the new PDP, which is progressive and responsive.”
Zakari who disclosed this in a telephone chat explained that Tambuwal is a grassroot leader and cannot abandon his people and governor who is part of the ‘revolution’ in the party.
“Although I cannot speak for the Honorable Speaker, I can confirm that he is the People’s Speaker; he is the Speaker for all and so would naturally flow with the majority. Besides, he cannot abandon his governor in the struggle. He is from Sokoto State and the governor, Alhaji Wammako ,is a prime mover of this PDP, so he cannot be missing in action. But it is left for you to read the writing on the wall,” he stated.
The House spokesman said they were solidly behind their governors in the quest to reposition PDP, insisting that those in the “New PDP” have been disenchanted with the way the party is being run by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and his cohorts and have therefore decided to reclaim it from those he described as the invaders.
” I can tell you, most of us are disenchanted with what has ben going on in the party and have now decided that enough is enough. We have to support our leaders and governors to reposition our great party and those who are with us are the majority. Anybody who is on the other side should better have a rethink,” he added.
Zakari maintained that most of the lawmakers were still on vacation and could not be reached physically to append their signatures but they have confirmed their membership of the Baraje- led PDP.
He explained that as soon as they return, they will join the party.
In the statement earlier issued on Tuesday, the 57 lawmakers declared: “We wish to state that, by this statement, we pledge our loyalty and support to the New PDP under the able chairmanship of Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje; the Deputy Chairman, Dr Sam SamJaja; National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola; and other members of the National Executive Committee.
“We congratulate them and wish them the very best as they steer the affairs of our party to provide level playing-field for all Nigerians.”
The 57 House of Representatives members who signed the letter are: Hon. Abdullahi Balarabe, Hon. Abdulmumin Jibrin, Hon. Ali Ahmad, Hon. Abdullahi Muhammad Wamako, Hon. Abdullahi Muhammed Rico, Hon. Abdulmalik Usman Cheche, Hon. Adamu Bashir, Hon. Ahman-Patigi Aliyu, Hon. Ahmed Zerewa, Hon. Aishatu Ahmed Binani, Hon. Aiyedun Akeem Olayinka, Hon. Alhassan Ado Garba, Hon. Aliyu Madaki, Hon. Aliyu Shehu, Hon. Aminu Shagari, Hon. Aminu Sulyman, Hon. Aminu Tukur, Hon. Andrew Uchendu, Hon. Asita Honorable, Hon. Bashir Baballe, Hon. Blessing Nsiegbe, Hon. Dakuku Peterside, Hon. Dawari George and Hon. Faruq Muhammed Lawan. Others include Hon. Gibson Nathaniel, Hon. Gogo Bright Tamunu, Hon. Haliru Zakari Jikantoro, Hon. Hassan Adamu, Hon. Hussain Namadi, Hon. Ibrahim Ebbo, Hon. Ibrahim Tijjani Kivawa, Hon. Issa Bashir, Hon. Kabiru Achida, Hon. Khabeeb Mustapha, Hon. Maurice Pronen, Hon.Mohammed Sabo, Hon. Mpigi Barinada, Hon. Muhammad Ahmed Mukhtar, Hon. Muhammad Ibrahim, Hon. Muhammad Sani Kutigi, Hon. Mukhtari Muhammad, Hon. Musa Ado and Hon. Musa Sarkin-Adar.
The rest are Hon. Mustapha Bala Dawaki, Hon. Mustapha Mashood, Hon. Ogbonna Nwuke, Hon. Rafiu Ibrahim, Hon. Sa’ad Nabunkari, Hon. Sani Muhammed Aliyu, Hon. Shuaibu Gobir, Hon. Sokonte Davies, Hon. Sufiyanu Ubale, Hon. Umar Bature, Hon. Usman Wada, Hon. Yusuph Dunari Sule, Hon. Yusuph Galambi and Hon. Zakari Muhammed.
By Saint Mugaga, Abuja
