I Have Made Up My Mind To Join APC...Wamakko

Barring any unforeseen circumstances, Governor Aliyu Wamakko of Sokoto State is set to hand over his political empire to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), for supporting Hon. Aminu Tambuwal to become the speaker of the House of Representatives.

The ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had zoned the speakership to the South-west zone, which presented Hon. Mulikat Adeola for the position. She was defeated by Tambuwal, who enjoyed the support of lawmakers from the opposition party. A source who was at the meeting between Governor Wamakko and the APC leadership a few days ago in Sokoto, said at the Weekend that the governor told the APC delegation that, “There is no going back on joining the opposition party.”

Wamakko is among the G-7 Governors threatening to decamp from the crises-ridden PDP. The others are Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano).

Speaking on a strict condition of anonymity, the source recalled how the PDP had zoned the speakership to the South-west, but Tambuwal, who is from Sokoto, (North-west) won the coveted seat at the expense of Hon Adeola. “Governor Wamakko told the APC delegation that there is no going back, that he has made up his mind to decamp to the opposition party for two reasons: the leadership style of (Bamanga) Tukur and to pay back the opposition for the support it gave Tambuwal to become the speaker, despite the position of the party. But for the support of the then Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) for Aminu (Tambuwal), there is no way the speakership could have come to Sokoto and as far as Wamakko is concerned, this is payback time for the opposition. And even while others are still speaking with the two sides of their mouths, Wamakko has been telling those who care to listen to him that he has made up his mind never to return to PDP,” the source disclosed.

He further said that against all the permutations and speculation going on, the speaker, Tambuwal, might not go for the presidency whenever Wamakko decamps to the APC, for technical reasons. “Governor Wamakko has made up his mind that Tambuwal would succeed him, having seen him as the best hand that could continue his good work and Tambuwal is believed to be interested in the office. Although some people are touting Tambuwal’s name for the presidency in 2015, but let me tell you, he would rather go for the governorship; that is certain,” he said.

Both Wamakko and Tambuwal were in the defunct ANPP before they defected to PDP through a political alliance that led to Alhaji Shagari’s emergence as deputy governor.