Tambuwal decries politicians’ desperation ahead of 2015 polls
JUNE 26, 2013
Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Tuesday frowned on what he called “shameful political doctrines” that had crept into the country’s politics ahead of the 2015 general elections.
Tambuwal noted that though 2015 was two years away, some politicians had introduced the doctrines in their alleged desperation for power.
His opposition to the doctrines was contained in an address to welcome members of the House from their three-week vacation.
The Speaker noted that such doctrines, if left unchecked, could destroy democracy and called on Nigerians to halt the “proponents.”
Tambuwal said, “Preparatory to 2015, many have started introducing political doctrines that are alien to democracy and destructive to peaceful coexistence in a civilised society, they are busy fanning the embers of partisan hate and strife.
“According to this new doctrine, it is a political offence for a member of one political party to exchange greetings with someone in another political party, it is indeed a heinous crime for one to visit, attend the burial, birthday, coronation, wedding or any such ceremony of someone in an opposing political party.
“The proponents of this shameful doctrine not only offend our sensibilities; they constitute an affront to the whole essence of democracy and civilised coexistence and must be halted before they do incalculable damage to our polity. My dear colleagues, we must refuse to be students of this school of thought.”
He argued that there was a difference between being a party candidate for an election and winning an election to represent a larger constituency.
Tambuwal said once elected, an official was accountable to the people and not the political party on whose platform he contested the election.
He added, “At this juncture, I am strongly persuaded to state once again that from the little that we know, there is dichotomy between politics and governance.
“Thus, there is a difference between a candidate in electoral contest on the platform of a political party and an elected official, who has assumed a non-partisan responsibility and taken oath to protect and preserve the constitution, to serve the people and the nation.
“While the former is not merely at liberty but under a duty to be partisan, the latter must conduct himself in a manner worthy of the call to non partisanship in governance.”
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