Kwankwaso Declares Presidential Bid …Earns Amaechi’s Approval, Praise …As Tambuwal Finally Defects To APC

All roads, led to the Old Parade Ground, Abuja, venue of Gov. Rabiu Kwankwaso’s declaration of intention to contest the presidential election on the platform of the APC in 2015, yesterday.
The venue, with two major roads leading into it, was effectively secured by combined team of police, military personnel and the civil defence corps members, yesterday.
The situation led to traffic gridlock as many motorists, especially those approaching from the Central Area of Abuja, remained stationary for hours. Business activities were, however, booming with hawkers making brisk businesses.
Kwankwaso, while making his declaration, urged the nation’s youths to “unleash’’ their votes for the right candidate at the 2015 polls.
In a 3,430-word document, Kwankwaso called on the youth to vote for the APC, to ensure change in the nation and actualise their hope.
“We must vote for the APC to bring change to our nation, to actualise hope; to remove despair and despondency. “We must stand up together as one people to fight against corruption, impunity and division. Yes, we must,’’ he stressed.
He said that there would be challenges but Nigerians must unite to overcome any challenge posed in the quest for a greater Nigeria.
“I therefore wish to accept this call and to formally declare my interest to seek for the presidential ticket of our great party, the APC, in February 2015 general elections. “I am offering myself and soliciting the support of all patriotic Nigerians to join me on this difficult journey to return our country to the pedestal of peace and progress. “I have no doubt in my mind that this journey is difficult and arduous. I have no illusion about the enormity of the challenges but to save our country, we must walk the journey, however difficult.
“And we must confront and defeat all the challenges, however monstrous they are,’’ he said.
Speaking on behalf of the APC governors, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, lauded his Kano counterpart’s “good works”. “I said it at the Buhari declaration that whoever wins the presidential ticket after the APC primaries, all the governors will support him.’’
Gov. Abdulazeez Yari said “the APC as a movement was not formed to be an opposition party. It was conceived but to wrestle power from un-performing governments’’.
A former member of the House of Representatives, Mr Fred Olokor, said when Kwankwanso was a young man 22 years ago as the deputy speaker, “he displayed a high sense of responsibility; he was a true nationalist. “He has seen Nigeria from different perspectives at his young age. I am confident that when given the opportunity, will rule the country with the fear of God”.
Sen. Robert Boroffice, who spoke on behalf of senators present, said: “If he becomes the president, he would fight corruption and give the country a good governance, true transformation to the masses’’.
The Eze Ndi Igbo in Kano, Mr Boniface Ibekwe, in his goodwill message, said “we have come to identify with the aspiration of our governor because he is the kind of leader the country needs.
“He does not discriminate and he supports all ethnic groups to do their businesses in Kano. If other leaders performed like him, the country would be a better place’’.
The Chairman of the occasion and former Governor Abubakar Audu, said he was also at the event on behalf of all former governors.
“The difference is clear because Kwankwanso served Nigeria in many capacities. Nigerians have no alternative but to vote for him. I am optimistic that come 2015 the governor will be inaugurated as president. “This is an opportunity again for Nigerians to re-write the history of the country because Kwankwanso’s rich experience speaks loudly for him”, he said.
Present at the event were Governors Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers; Abdulazeez Yari of Zamfara and Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, while Yobe, Borno and Kwara states had their deputy governors in attendance.
Others were former Gov. Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State; Sen. Bindowo Jibrilla; Sen. Magnus Abbey; former National Chairman of the PDP, Kawu Baraje; Mai Bala Buni; National Women Leader, Sharon Ikeazu, and former Minister of Mines and Steel, Mohammed Bala.
Meanwhile, the Speaker of House of Representatives, Alhaji  Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday in Abuja defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji. Aminu Tambuwal, said yesterday that he heeded the calls of members of his constituency to dump the Peoples Democratic Party.
He also claimed that certain developments in the Sokoto State chapter of the PDP suggested that he could no longer continue to be a PDP member.
Alhaji Tambuwal, spoke in a brief remarký at  plenary to formally declare his defection to the All Progressives Congress shortly after the House Leader, Mulikat Akande-Adeola (PDP-Oyo) moved a motion for the house to adjourn sitting till Dec. 3.
“In pursuit of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution and in view of the political developments in my state, I wish to formally inform you of my membership of the APC .”This is in continuation of the great sacrifice and also the need to ensure development of constitutional democracy,’’ Tambuwal said.
“Let me register my profound appreciation to all of you my colleagues for the unflinching support you have continued to extend to me for the overall national interest and development of our democracy.
“May almighty God continue to guide us all”, he told members. The defection ended months of speculation over Tambuwal’s political future.
Members of APC caucus in the house, in a  reaction, told newsmen that the development was a historic one. Leader of the APC caucus, Rep. Femi Gbajabiamila (APC-Lagos) said that the move was consistent with the law, adding that “the APC members would continue to support the current leadership’’.
Similarly, Rep. Samson Osagie (APC-Edo) said that the house, which adjourned till Dec 3, was to enable the lawmakers to consult with their constituents and promote their political interest ahead of the 2015 general elections. Osagie, however, ruled out possible counter move by the PDP against the leadership of the house.
According to him, “there is unity in this house and that is the kind of unity we want to be replicated in every part of this country”. He further described Tambuwal as a bridge builder who had united the house in spite of different political affiliations of members of the parliament.
However, the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has threatened the House of Representatives Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, for defecting from the ruling PDP to the opposition All Progressives Congress.
In a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, the party reminded Tambuwal of the minority status of the APC in the lower house, in what analysts described as a thinly veiled threat of impeachment.
The statement added that the party’s leadership had met over the matter and might have reached a common decision on what step to take.
Metuh stated further that the leadership had also met with party leaders in the House of Representatives concerning the defection.
The party said: “After a thorough consideration of the matter, the National Working Committee came to a conclusion that the Hon. Speaker, as a responsible elected officer, knows full well what is needful and honourable of him since his new party is in the minority.
“We are not unmindful of the fact that Hon. Tambuwal became Speaker on the platform of the PDP as the political party with the majority of seats in the House of Representatives and that this incontrovertible fact has not changed.”
Commenting, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State said the PDP had always suspected the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu  Tambuwal.
He said his defection to the APC did not come to him and the party as a surprise, but said that even with the defection, the ruling party still has majority in the House.
Akpabio, who spoke with journalists when he visited the national secretariat of the party in Abuja said as an honourable, he would expect the speaker to resign.
He said, “We have always known the Speaker as a PDP man in name but APC in action and he has proved it to the world. I will only ask him to be honourable and resign especially as the PDP is not in crisis.

Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State (right) with Senator Osita Izunaso and other APC loyalists, during the APC Mega Rally in Port Harcourt, last Saturday