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Tag: Aminu Tambuwal

  • BREAKING: Aminu Tambuwal steps down from PDP presidential race

    BREAKING: Aminu Tambuwal steps down from PDP presidential race

    Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal has just announced his withdrawal from the presidential race of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Tambuwal withdrew from the PDP presidential race, barely few minutes to the commencement of voting at the special national convention of the party.

    In announcing his withdrawal from the PDP presidential race, the Sokoto State Governor lent support for Atiku Abubakar and urged his supporters to take his decision to withdraw from the race in good faith.

    He said that having consulted widely across the country, he decided to withdraw from the race for posterity.

    “There must be a time for a leader to make sacrifice,” he said.

    He said that his decision was to minimize rancour and foster unity in the party and to ensure national unity.

    TNG reports Tambuwal was the fourth aspirant to withdraw from the race after former Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra, Dr Nwachukwu Anakwenze and Mr Mohammed Hayatu-Deen.

    Reacting, Atiku on his Twitter handle, thanked him for the gesture.

    “I look forward to working with you as we unite our party and our country,” he tweeted.

  • Gov Tambuwal join calls for Godwin Emefiele’s resignation

    Gov Tambuwal join calls for Godwin Emefiele’s resignation

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has called on the Federal Government to effect the resignation of the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele.

    Tambuwal, a Presidential aspirant on the platform of PDP, made the call on Saturday, in Jalingo, shortly after interacting with the party delegates ahead of PDP presidential primaries.

    The governor said that Emefiele’s continued stay in office, after openly identifying himself with a political party, should not be encouraged.

    Three interest groups had purchased the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential nomination and expression of interest forms for the CBN governor.

    However, Emefiele, while reacting through his verified twitter handle, on Saturday rejected the forms.

    He said that, should he decide to contest for the political office, he would prefer to use his personal resources.
    Speaking further, Tambuwal told the delegates that he would respect a consensus arrangement of the party for the presidential slot, if done fairly.

    He commended Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba for holding the party’s flag high in the state, through the provision of infrastructure and ensuring relative peace in the state.

    He expressed satisfaction at the warm reception and support he received from delegates in the state.

    In his response,Ishaku said that the country needed a competent leader, who would harness the abundant resources of the state and ensure the security of lives and property.

    The governor said that given the rich endowment of the state, a serious president should focus on the state alone and create massive wealth for the country outside crude oil.

    He called on all politicians to play the game by the rules, to avoid a total breakdown of law and order across the country.

  • 2023: Consensus arrangement somersaults as Tambuwal pulls out

    2023: Consensus arrangement somersaults as Tambuwal pulls out

    Governor of Sokoto state and one of the apostles of consensus arrangements for the north, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal has pulled out of the agreement declaring he was not part of it.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) recalls that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed had met in former President Ibrahim Babangida Minna mission last Fridaywhere the northern elders endorsed Saraki and Mohammed.

    In a statement issued in the early hours of Saturday, his campaign train noted that Governor Tambuwal was not part of the Minna declaration recognising two candidates instead of one.

    In the statement signed by Nicholas Msheliza Director Organization and Mobilization for TCO of Tambuwal Campaign Organization (TCO) ssit its attention has been drawn to a news item that former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Gov. Bala Muhammad of Bauchi state have emerged as consensus candidates from amongst the four of us announced at a meeting in Minna, Niger state.

    ‘This is, to be candid and forthright, not correct.

    The correct situation is that the team met on Wednesday 20th April, 2022, at Bauchi Governor’s lodge in Abuja and had a review meeting; and, unanimously agreed that the consensus arrangement was not working.

    “The team further agreed that Sen. Saraki should come up with a draft statement on how to communicate this decision to the Nigerian public.

    “This was the last time that members of the team sat and mutually agreed on anything. The proposed meeting to review and vet the statement scheduled for 10 pm of the same day was aborted unilaterally by Sen. Saraki via a WhatsApp message.

    “However, on Thursday, 21st, 2022, same Sen Saraki circulated yet another WhatsApp message suggesting that members of the team should head to Minna for a meeting on Friday, Gov.

    “Tambuwal reached other members of the team and informed them that he stands by the decision of the team that the initiative is not working. This is the reason Gov. Tambuwal was absent at today’s (Friday) meeting in Minna. As a result therefore, the outcome of the Minna meeting has no consequence or any implication on the aspiration of Gov. Tambuwal, who had earlier on informed his colleagues of maintaining their agreed position that the initiative has collapsed.

    “Members of the public should be reminded that what was canvassed for was a consensus candidate and not consensus candidates.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, Gov Tambuwal has submitted his Presidential nomination forms and now that the quest for a consensus candidate out of the four has clearly collapsed, will go ahead and face screening and indeed contest the PDP presidential primaries.

    “This is in consonance with his acclaimed outlook as a pan-Nigerian candidate, with pedigree of national service as the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives, life member of the Body of Benchers and now in his second and final term as Governor of Sokoto state.

  • Consensus candidate is healthy for PDP – Gov. Tambuwal

    Consensus candidate is healthy for PDP – Gov. Tambuwal

    Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, says having a consensus presidential candidate for 2023 is healthy for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Tambuwal, who is one of PDP’s presidential candidates, stated this while speaking with newsmen shortly after submitting his nomination and expression of interest form for the presidential election in Abuja on Tuesday.

    Tambuwal, who was represented by Dr Nicholas Msheliza, also expressed optimism that consensus arrangement would favour him.

    “Consensus is a good thing. Is healthy for the party. Our prayer, I’m thinking is that the consensus will favour me.

    “So far, I am the frontline aspirant, our thinking, our prayer and hope is that the consensus will go my way.”

    Msheliza, who said that Tambuwal had canvased support round the country, expressed joy on the level of his acceptability among the PDP family nationwide, which he described as overwhelming and encouraging.

    “For the fact that he is one presidential candidate that has traversed over the 360 Federal Constituencies of this country gives him an edge.

    “He knows the demography and the geography of this country. He knows the problem of this country. He is the actual unifier. He is the bridge builder. He’s so humble.

    “He is such a person that is so energetic and vibrant. He can be trusted to forge partnership and alliances and rescue and build this nation from where we have found ourselves today.“

    He added that Tambuwal would continue his consultations across the country.

  • 2023: We are ready for consensus without acrimony – Saraki

    2023: We are ready for consensus without acrimony – Saraki

    Former Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, says that all the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential hopefuls from the North are ready for a consensus candidate during the party’s primaries without acrimony.

    He gave the assurance in Bauchi on Sunday when Saraki and Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, also a PDP presidential hopeful, paid a consultative visit to Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.

    Saraki, who addressed the media on behalf of the three presidential hopefuls, said they found it necessary as stakeholders of the party to meet, brainstorm and see how things could best work out among them.

    He said: “In doing so, we met and discussed that for 2023 ahead of us, the unity and stability of the country and the growth of the country is more important than individual ambitions.

    “We also met to strive for the need for us to work together. We believe that the three of us are working together harmoniously, committed and with a lot of energy, there will be great hope for this country going ahead.

    “We appreciate that the three of us have shown aspiration to lead this country, but we also come to realise that we are all capable, competent and fit to lead this country.

    “At the end of the day, it is only one person that will lead this country in 2023; and we also resolved that we are going to work closely to ensure that we come out with a way that consensus arrangement would come among the three of us on how to go forward into leading this country.

    He added that they also believed that their role was to make things easier for them to have stability in the party, saying if there is stability in PDP, there would be stability in Nigeria.

    The former governor of Kwara, however, urged all the PDP supporters to remain focussed and united in order to uplift the party to a greater heights.

    Saraki explained that the three of them would also meet with former Vice President, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to brief him about the discussions they had during the meeting in Bauchi.

  • 2023: How I will tackle insecurity if elected president – Tambuwal

    2023: How I will tackle insecurity if elected president – Tambuwal

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State and People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential aspirant has addressed how he will tackle insecurity if elected president of Nigeria in the 2023 general elections.

    Governor Tambuwal gave the address after a consultative meeting with Kebbi State PDP executives, delegates and other key stakeholders of the party held at the state secretariat in Birnin Kebbi, the state capital.

    Tambuwal was in Birnin Kebbi in continuation of consultation towards accomplishing his intent of becoming the presidential flag-bearer of PDP.

    “First of all, it’s about ensuring that Nigeria is re-secured and to do that, we must reorient our security forces so that they learn and understand the techniques of the current security challenges.

    “We will ensure supply of sufficient modern equipment and ensure that security agents are well taken care of in terms of their welfare, recruit more and more personnel and use modern technology to fight banditry, insurgency and other crimes across Nigeria.

    “We also intend to create more jobs, we will have no business with poverty in Nigeria, and by creating more jobs, you are in a way addressing the issue of insecurity.

    “We also intend to support and boost agriculture that will take care of most of the people by engaging them in one form of agriculture or the other,” Tambuwal said.

    On education, the aspirant observed that “if care is not taken”, the country’s education system would collapse, insisting that the issue was glaring in the lingering squabble between Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) and the Federal Government.

    Tambuwal said if elected, he would intensify efforts on more of rail services, support constitutional amendment to devolve more powers to states.

    “On infrastructure, we intend to do a lot more in terms of providing more of rail services in the country by also supporting the constitutional amendment that will devolve more powers to states, strategising for their involvement in rail system, power and energy.

    “This will enable states invest in power generation, transmission and distribution as well as provision of railway and other services and a lot of other things that we will do to reform, reposition and take Nigeria to a greater level,” he noted.

    On how to foster unity among Nigerians, Tambuwal said that records were there when he was the Speaker, House of Representatives, he was able to ensure unity among house members from different parts of the country.

    “I was able to bring 359 members of the house together without rancour, despite the fact that members came from different parts of the country and from different backgrounds, different culture, and different parties among others.

    “This goes to show that by the grace of God the capacity is there to bring back the unity of this country by providing inclusive leadership,” he said.

    Earlier, former PDP Board of Trustees’ Chairman, Dr Bello Haliru, commended Tambuwal for accepting to contest for the position of President.

    “We are not just happy that you are from Sokoto, and Kebbi is part of Sokoto, but because you actually deserved to do the job. This is because, we need somebody who is more credible and who will mend the bond of relationship amongst Nigerians.

    “We need somebody who is honest, confident, committed and more credible to fix the nation,” Haliru said.

    Dr Attahiru Bafarawa, former governor of Sokoto State and former presidential aspirant, expressed appreciation for the warmth reception accorded the entourage in Kebbi, appealing for more support, prayer and encouragement to succeed.

    He said that the essence of the visit was to consult with stakeholders toward taking one of their own to the number one seat come 2023.

    According to him, Tambuwal is more credible to be the flag bearer of the party considering his political antecedent, saying that he was a legislator who rose to the peak as Speaker.

    “Tambuwal was not only a legislator but also a lawyer by profession, meaning that he fits into judiciary and at the same time, today he is a sitting governor serving his second term.

    “This is to tell you that Tambuwal fits into all the three arms of government. Therefore, he is more credible for the presidential ticket. That’s why we are here to take him to where we want him to be, not where he wants to be,” Bafarawa said.

    Welcoming the aspirant and his entourage, Alhaji Usman Bello-Suru, Chairman, PDP Kebbi State, told the delegation that they did not need to beg for votes from Kebbi, assuring that a block vote from the state was reserved mainly for Tambuwal.

  • Nigeria must embrace restructuring to survive – Tambuwal

    Nigeria must embrace restructuring to survive – Tambuwal

    The Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Governors Forum (PDP-GF), Aminu Tambuwal has said that Nigeria must embrace restructuring to survive.

    Tambuwal stated this in his remark at a two-day PDP National Retreat with the theme: “It’s time to rescue Nigeria”, held on Tuesday in Abuja.

    Tambuwal, who is also the governor of Sokoto State, added that Nigeria must also embrace technology to tackle insecurity, unemployment and other problems confronting the country.

    “Nigeria must restructure its polity, economy, security and ways of doing things. It must embrace relative autonomy and decentralisation of power.

    “This will unleash the energies of our people, especially, the young. It is time to allow Nigeria blossom. It is doable with all hands on deck.

    “Secondly, we must embrace innovation and technology as a way of life. Technology will solve the youth unemployment time tomb.

    “Technology will improve our agriculture, health, industralisation, education and indeed, it has implications and impacts on all facets of our lives.

    “It is in this respect that we continue to condemn the twitter ban as a retrogressive action that should never have happened,” Tambuwal said.

    He added that PDP remained the only credible alternative to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and could not afford to fail Nigerians.

    “We must keep hope alive. We can do it. Yes, we can, as Obama would say.

    “The revitalized PDP shall be true to the words of our national anthem, ‘To build a nation where peace and justice shall reign’.”

    Tambuwal added that the PDP was poised to write a new positive chapter for Nigeria.

    According to him, the PDP has learnt its lessons and now ready for power in 2023 to provide hope for Nigeria.

    “A rickety vehicle cannot take Nigeria to its destination as the nation with possibilities for greatness and progress.

    “PDP is now once again a well-oiled, serviced vehicle that will midwife the Nigeria of our dreams.

    “It is indeed time to Rescue and Rebuild Nigeria,” Tambuwal said.

    The governor, who described Nigeria’s problems as man-made, said resolving them require a focused, determined, knowledgeable and patriotic organisation of like minds to build the critical mass necessary for a great leap forward.

    “Yes, it requires leadership, with vision and discipline.”

    He listed some of the problems confronting the country to include unemployment, insecurity, low education, inflation, weak naira, corruption, nepotism, ethnic and religious bigotry.

    Former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana in his presentation titled “An Over View of the PDP”, advised PDP leaders to work together as a team.

    Gana also urged PDP leaders to be dedicated to good governance, respect each other and show the willingness to serve the people.

    “It is very tough process of translating visions into reality, leaders must have a clear sense of priorities.

    “Indeed, effective leadership has a lot to do with the wisdom of selecting a set of priorities. You cannot do everything at once.

    “You must therefore seek the wisdom to decide the order of priorities. Wisdom is therefore a great asset for good leaders,” Gana said.

    Others at the event included former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, Governors Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta and Godwin Obaseki of Edo.

    Also present were former Cross River governor, Liyel Imoke and Chairman, PDP Disciplinary Committee, Chief Tom Ikimi among others.

  • Gov. Tambuwal confirms 43 deaths in Illela’s bandits attack

    Gov. Tambuwal confirms 43 deaths in Illela’s bandits attack

    Sokoto State’s Gov. Aminu Tambuwal on Thursday confirmed the killing of 43 persons in Monday’s bandits attack on Illela Local Government Area of the state.

    This is contained in a statement issued by Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Malam Muhammad Bello, on Thursday in Sokoto.

    Bello said Tambuwal led members of the state’s executives and the Security Council, as well as other top government officials on a condolence visit to the people of Illela on Wednesday.

    Illela is a border town, 97 kilometres from the state capital and has been experiencing pockets of bandits’ attacks lately.

    According to Bello, marauders attacked the town and some villages near it in the wee hours on Nov. 15 killing 13 persons in the first instance.

    “At the time of the governor’s visit on Wednesday, the death toll had risen to 43,’’ he stated.

    Bello explained that the village head of Kalmalo, one of the five villages affected in the midnight attack was wounded.

    Other villages affected were Munwadata, Sarma, Runji and Masasa.

    He added that Gov. Tambuwal told the people of Illela that the government and people of Sokoto State felt their grief and extended their condolences.

    “This is not a small occurrence. It is upsetting. This incident really touched us,’’ he quoted Tambuwal as saying.

    Bello stated that Tambuwal commended the local government authority, traditional rulers and community leaders for their lawful composition of a volunteer group to work with security operatives in the area.

    He added that the governor assured that the state government would constitute join operations of volunteers who would work under the supervision of security agencies to enhance security in the area.

    The governor appealed to the people not to be daunted by the attacks.

    “Instead, this should motivate you to redouble your efforts without seeking revenge in securing your communities,’’ Bello also quoted Tambuwal as saying.

  • 2023: We are working to present a unified force – PDP Governors

    2023: We are working to present a unified force – PDP Governors

    Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) say they are working together for the party to present a unified force in the 2023 general elections.

    Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State, disclosed this on Wednesday night while briefing newsmen after the forum meeting held in Abuja.

    Tambuwal said that the closed door meeting on the party’s forthcoming national convention which started around 3p.m., was very fruitful.

    “We have been meeting since 3p.m., meeting for about 7hours. Very fruitful deliberation.

    “You must have seen that we received leaders of our party in various other states where we don’t have governors.

    “We had robust discussion with them on how to move the party forward, bringing all the leaders together, not only working towards a best national convention, but even beyond that.

    “So that we can continue to sustain the goodwill that PDP is enjoying in Nigeria.

    “And send the right signal to Nigerians that we are truly prepared and working together as a family to ensure that, by the grace of God, come 2023, we present a very united force that will rescue Nigeria from the mis-governance of APC.”

    Tambuwal stated that the governors discussed about the party’s elective national convention scheduled for Oct. 30 in Abuja.

    “You will hear from National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting tomorrow (Thursday) what the position is going to be.”

    The party’s NEC is scheduled to meet on Thursday to ratify the issues of zoning the party’s national elective positions ahead of the Oct. 30 national convention.

    The forum Chairman said that the governors and the party leaders also discussed the PDP preparations for Anambra governorship election.

    He said that the governors were united in working for the victory of the party’s candidate in Anambra governorship election, Mr Vincent Ozigbo.

    “We also had in our meeting, our candidate in Anambra governorship election, where we received briefing from him on how prepared our party is in Anambra, and to confirm to you and Nigerians that all of us are united in supporting our party in Anambra.

    “By the grace of God we shall work assiduously towards winning Anambra election,” he said.

    The meeting was attended by PDP governors of Bauchi, Rivers, Adamawa, Benue, Oyo, Enugu, Edo, Delta, Taraba and Bayelsa states.

    Former governors who attended the meeting included Ahmed Makarfi of Kaduna, Sule Lamido of Jigawa, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Idris Ibrahim of Kogi, Ibrahim Dankwambo of Kebbi, Liyel Imoke of Cross River.

    Others were Emeka Ihedioha of Imo and Babangida Aliyu of Niger.

    Other stakeholders present were, Tanimu Turaki, Sen. Ayim Pius Ayim, Sen. Uche Ekwunife, Sen. Enyinnaya Abaribe, and Sen. David Mark.

  • Why leaders must address poverty, unemployment now — Tambuwal

    Why leaders must address poverty, unemployment now — Tambuwal

    Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State has said for Nigeria to overcome its challenges, the country’s present crop of leaders must eradicate poverty and unemployment amongst the youths.

    The governor said this on Thursday in Abuja at the National inauguration of a project tagged ‘Project 20 million’.

    Tambuwal, who was represented by his Special Assistant on Small and Medium Scale Enterprises, Akibu Dalhatu, said that for Nigeria to enjoy peace, these challenges must be addressed.

    He said that governments at all levels needed to first address poverty and youth unemployment, adding that only then would the impact of governance be felt by the people.

    “In our country today, we are faced with banditry, rape cases, corruption, mismanagement of funds, nepotism, insurgency, and so many issues that threaten the unity of this country.

    “Posterity will not fail to judge us all for our actions and inactions if we do not speak; it is we the people that will change Nigeria.

    “The recent #EndSARS protests that rocked across the country and even beyond is a wake-up call to our leaders.

    “The fact that they have pushed us so much to the wall shows that Nigerians are ready to start pushing back,” Tambuwal stressed.

    He noted that those at the top must effectively engage the citizenry in the budget making process, saying that appropriation bill at the Federal Level must not remain an executive affair.

    The governor said, “We must adopt the participatory approach to budget making; before the budget office of the Presidency, the Ministry of Finance and Budget Planning finalise any budget, they must organise town hall meetings.

    ”This will gather the inputs of the people and determine priority areas.

    “If the people participate in the budget-making process, they will also follow how the appropriated money is being spent and by this they will demand transparency and accountability from government officials.

    “The people’s engagement in these processes strengthens and deepens democracy, and this ensures that the process of the rule of law is followed.”