Shettima – Tinubu will not make Jonathan, Buhari’s errors

The incoming Tinubu administration will prevent the experiences of 2011 and 2015 when members of the House of Representatives revolted against the candidates of the ruling party, Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima said on Friday. Continue Reading>>>

He said former President Goodluck Jonathan lost control of his administration the day Aminu Tambuwal emerged as the speaker. He added that the singular act contributed to the defeat of the then-ruling party, PDP, in 2015.

He also said outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari failed to achieve much in his first term because of the election of candidates not endorsed by the ruling party as leaders of the parliament.

Mr Shettima spoke during a meeting with Tajueen Abbas, Ben Kalu and other members of the ‘Joint Task,’ a coalition of elected lawmakers who have pledged to support the choice of the ruling party, APC.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) adopted Messrs Abbas and Kalu as speaker and deputy speaker respectively.

The decision of the ruling party has been trailed by protests from other aspirants. They have formed a coalition called the Coalition of Progressive Speakership Aspirants (COPSA) to fight Mr Abbas.

Some of the members of the coalition include Deputy Speaker Idris Wase, Majority Leader Alhassan Doguwa, Sada Soli, Aminu Jaji, Yusuf Gagdi, Miriam Onuoha and Muktar Betara.

Speaking on the ongoing controversy trailing the speakership race, Mr Shettima said he is in constant talk with all the aggrieved aspirants in order to resolve the crisis. Continue Reading>>>

“I will take it upon myself to reach out to the other contenders. Rt Hon Betara is my brother. We are from the same subregion, we are from the same state and I have the best relationship with him. I met him two nights ago, I will sustain that,” Mr Shettima said.

“Around 1 p.m. today, I met with Wase, the deputy speaker. We will continue with the engagements so we can have a rancour-free Assembly.

“When Obasanjo lost grip of the National Assembly, his first tenure was a failure. President Buhari could do little in his first because of the rancorous relationships.