We aren’t fighting Jonathan, Tambuwal tells Tukur

Our Reporter November 8, 2012 

 

…Says policies of government must be debated
From TAIWO AMODU, Abuja
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal has assured the Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) National Working Committee (NWC), that the leadership of the House of Representatives was not antagonizing President Goodluck Jonathan. While presenting vote -of –thanks at the end of President Goodluck Jonathan’s 2013 budget presentation to joint session of National Assembly, Tambuwal had pointed out certain infractions on the part of the Presidency in budget implementation and execution.
The PDP NWC while reacting to the comments of the Speaker of the House of Representatives had warned leadership of both the Senate and Representatives who won elections to National Assembly on the party’s platform to refrain from antagonizing the executive arm of government. But addressing members of the PDP NWC yesterday, when he led some principal officers of the House, who are members of PDP on a courtesy visit to the party national secretariat, Tambuwal noted that what was being viewed as rebellion and antagonism was in the best interest of the country and growth of democracy.
“On our part in the House of Representatives, we shall continue to do what is good for good governance of the country. We are working harmoniously with the executive arm of government, for the benefit of the people of Nigeria. I want it to be on record that there is no bill from the executive arm of government that hasn’t passed through the floor of the House of Representatives.
Of course, debates must be taken, issues must be raised, policies must be criticized, bills must be criticized, but at the end of the day, we get to the desired destination, of ensuring that the programmes of our government are passed. “So, Mr. chairman, we are working with our executive arm of government harmoniously, in the end for the benefit of the people of Nigeria. That Mr. chairman should be quite re-assuring to you, as the leader and father of our party and to our NWC.
Whatever it is that you might have been seeing, Mr. chairman, it has to go that way, because that’s what democracy is all about. “Members of the National Assembly, particularly members of the PDP are very much committed to the manifesto of our party and we are aware of what the manifesto of our party is all about. “It was the manifesto of our party that we marketed and won elections with.
So, Mr. chairman, we are very much abreast of the programmes of our party, we are keeping in line with those programmes, we are doing our best to ensure that our country and the people that elected us get the best out of all of us. “On this note, Mr. chairman, we want to assure you that we are very much loyal to the party and committed to its programmes.”
In his remarks, National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur expressed confidence in the leadership of the House and assured it of its support. “We are willing to give you strong backings while you are legislating; we will not disturbing you as you are doing well.”

SOURCE: 8 November 2012.