Tambuwal to Osun PDP: I am a national leader

Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday fired back at the members of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, who had condemned his last weekend's visit to Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun State.The Osun PDP had in a press statement written by the spokesman of the party in the state, Diran Odeyemi, demanded apology from the Speaker for the visit and his subsequent remarks after the visit.In a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, Tambuwal said, 'It was not his intention to join issues with any person or group, however, it has become imperative to state the fact that as the Number Four citizen in the country, the Speaker is a national figure who must be seen to be above partisan considerations at all times.'The statement also said, 'The Speaker is a leader and rallying point for all Nigerians, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic consideration. The composition of members of the House is a testament to this fact.'Tambuwal said he visited Osun to commiserate with former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Patricia Etteh, whose mother was buried same day but as a sign of his respect to constituted authorities and the people of Osun, he paid a courtesy visit to Aregbesola at the Government House in Osogbo.'It should be noted that before Osun was not the first state under the control of the opposition that the Speaker visited for a function, and paid a courtesy call to it's Governor. A week before the trip to Osun, he paid a courtesy visit to an ANPP Governor, Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara, when he paid a condolence visit to the State to condole with Hon Ibrahim Gusau and IG of Police MD Abubakar,' the speaker said.Tambuwal admonished his PDP colleagues to learn to know that there is time for politics, and a time for governance.The Speaker reiterated that he is a member of the PDP and will continue to work assiduously for the progress of the party at all times.
Click here to read full news..