God decided Dogara’s victory, not Tambuwal, says Gbajabiamila

Majority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said on Wednesday that he believed God played a role in the victory of the Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, over him and not any living being.

Gbajabiamila specifically named the Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, as not having a hand in the victory of Dogara.

He advised Tambuwal, the immediate-past speaker of the House, to stop celebrating Dogara’s victory on the grounds that he (Dogara) won because the governor supported him.

Gbajabiamila had been touted to emerge the speaker of the eighth Assembly, but the result of the June 9 election stunned him as Dogara beat him by eight votes to become the number four citizen of the country.

Tambuwal had kept mute over his backing for Dogara until Sunday when he opened up in Sokoto State.

He admitted working against Gbajabiamila, his former close ally, because he saw in Dogara a man with better leadership qualities.

Tambuwal spoke as he received a delegation from Dogara’s Bogoro and Tafawa Balewa Local Government in Bauchi State on a “thank you” visit to the governor in Sokoto.

He said, “Eight out of 10 members of the Body of Principal Officers in the last Assembly supported Dogara’s aspiration. Only Gbajabiamila and Datti Ahmad supported Femi (Gbajabiamila).

“I have strong affinity with Femi (Gbajabiamila). He was closer to me than Dogara. But, when talking about leadership and collective decisions, sentiments have to be put aside. I am 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.

But in a reaction in Abuja, Gbajabiamila said as much as Tambuwal tried to pull him to join issues with him over Dogara’s election, he would not do so.”

He said he considered his victory as a decision of God and not because Tambuwal backed Dogara.

Gbajabiamila added, “Tambuwal has finally spoken. I have no issues to join with him as I have moved on.

“As I keep saying, God’s will has been done not Tambuwal’s will. There is a speaker in place and I intend to continue to work with him to the best of my ability in moving our country forward.

“For Tambuwal, I can only wish him all the best in his future undertakings.”