Many members of the House of Representatives now besiege the residences of the Governor of Sokoto State, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal, to lobby for appointment as House committee chairmen, The PUNCH learnt on Monday.

Findings showed that the governor’s official residence in Sokoto town and another house in Abuja were frequently visited by the members, who believed he could still influence things at the House in their favour.

Tambuwal is the immediate-past Speaker of the House.

He was widely believed to have canvassed the candidacy of the incumbent Speaker, Mr. Yakubu Dogara, behind the scenes in the run-up to the June 9 election of presiding officers.

Dogara had won the speakership by defeating the current House Majority Leader, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, by eight votes.

Dogara, said to be a strong ally of Tambuwal, headed one of the most powerful committees, Committee on House Services, during the 7th Assembly under the former speaker’s administration.

Investigations showed that the lawmakers’ visits to Tambuwal’s house intensified soon after the House resolved its 49-day leadership tussle two weeks ago and turned attention to the composition of House standing committees.

Last week, Dogara had set up the Selection Committee, a body headed by him and which has the primary duty of naming standing committee chairmen and members.

Dogara is scheduled to inaugurate the Selection Committee on Tuesday (today).

A National Assembly official disclosed that among the lobbyists were some former committee members, who served under Tambuwal and still banked on his support to get new placements.

There were also said to be those members who felt they contributed more to Dogara’s electoral victory and needed Tambuwal to add some voice to their ambition by speaking to his successor on their behalf.

“They have been trooping to the governor’s houses, both in Sokoto and Abuja. It is about the committee issue, mainly. It is a delicate situation which requires some tact to handle.

“There are days that up to 15 members will visit,” the official said.

It was gathered that the former Speaker, in his “usual clever and accommodating approach,” allegedly attended to the members but made no commitments.

There are about 94 committees in the House, but not all of them are considered as worthwhile by the lawmakers, who see some committees as ‘juicy.’

Investigations revealed that the most sought committees remained Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream); Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream); Committee on Appropriation; Committee on Finance; Committee on Communications; Committee on Power; Committee on Works; Committee on Customs; Committee on NDDC; Committee on Electoral Matters; Committee on Gas; Committee on Aviation; Committee on Banking/Currency; Committee on House Services; Committee on Water Resources; Committee on Agriculture; Committee on Education; and Committee on Defence.

When contacted for comments, Tambuwal’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Imam Imam, told The PUNCH that as a former Speaker, his boss was at liberty to interact freely with lawmakers. But he dismissed insinuations that it was all about committee appointments.

“It is wrong to conclude that a meeting with His Excellency is about committees,” Imam said.

But, the Chairman, House Ad hoc Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Sani Zoro, told The PUNCH that there was no need for lawmakers to lobby or scramble for committees as Dogara’s selection committee would use a transparent process to pick the chairmen and members.

According to Zoro, merit, ability to deliver, experience, and balance across all divides, will be used to determine the membership of the committees.

He explained that this was the reason the selection committee had among its members, state, party and zonal caucus members.

Zoro claimed that much of the membership of the committees would have been determined by the caucuses, using the aforementioned criteria, before the completed forms would be returned to the selection committee.

“Again, lobbying or scrambling, if it exists, will be against the change mantra of the All Progressives Congress-led administration.

“If that happens, it means we are giving the impression that there will be business as usual.

“Dogara will not encourage that type of development, hence the criteria for selecting the committees are as indicated above,” he added


http://www.punchng.com/news/reps-besiege-tambuwals-homes-to-lobby-for-committee-appointments/

Well this is politics.

No one is without a Godfather.

In some weeks time, you will see " Tambuwal and Dogara on war Path"

How come no one is going to bourdillon the home of the APC "national leader" and widely acclaimed godfather of all godfathers to lobby for appointments

You see most. Of them are not there to work but for teir selfish interest.

No wonder Tambuwal supported Dogara against Femi. He wants to be deciding who get what committee chairmanship from Sokoto. The influence he knew he couldn't wield over Femi. Dogara must be such a weakling.

chukwudi44:
How come no one is going to bourdillon the home of the APC "national leader" and widely acclaimed godfather of all godfathers to lobby for appointments

And how come no one is going to Otuoke, the home of the former President of Nigeria who was disgraced by Nigerians who desperately wanted a new government and widely acclaimed 'humble president' of all presidents to lobby for appointments

Nice one.

Tinubu is gradually been relegated to his rightful place in Nigeria's politics - nowhere

Bourdillion is for local politics. Sokoto, Niger, Anambra and Delta is where power is brokered in Nigeria.

Masturbaters oya come and eat.

chukwudi44:
How come no one is going to bourdillon the home of the APC "national leader" and widely acclaimed godfather of all godfathers to lobby for appointments

ok

Obijulius:
Nice one.

Tinubu is gradually been relegated to his rightful place in Nigeria's politics - nowhere

Wrong. I'm not a fan of Tinubu but I've observed overtime that the man is a regional warlord. As hard as it is to say, Tinubu has covered the South-West like a telecommunication network.

His wings have been clipped at the centre he craves the most, following the emergence of Yakubu Dogara and Bukola Saraki's emergence as the Speaker, House of Representative and Senate President respectively. Call it Atiku and co's handwriting.

Sanchez01:

And how come no one is going to Otuoke, the home of the former President of Nigeria who was disgraced by Nigerians who desperately wanted a new government and widely acclaimed 'humble president' of all presidents to lobby for appointments

Neither GEJ nor the ijaw people claimed he was APC national leader nor the godfather of all godfathers

Sanchez01:

Wrong. I'm not a fan of Tinubu but I've observed overtime that the man is a regional warlord. As hard as it is to say, Tinubu has covered the South-West like a telecommunication network.

His wings have been clipped at the centre he craves the most, following the emergence of Yakubu Dogara and Bukola Saraki's emergence as the Speaker, House of Representative and Senate President respectively. Call it Atiku and co's handwriting.

Tinubu does exist in ekiti state

Sanchez01:

And how come no one is going to Otuoke, the home of the former President of Nigeria who was disgraced by Nigerians who desperately wanted a new government and widely acclaimed 'humble president' of all presidents to lobby for appointments

Bro. Sanchez abegii leave matter joor who will go to a president who didnt know that corruption was so much under him..

I hope Jonathan didnt utter such but if it is veracious that he did, then he just shoot himself more in the leg

it never started yesterdAy.it has always been like this.Shamless men.

If #500 lost under their watch even tambuwal will not save them from going to prison.

chukwudi44:

Neither GEJ nor the ijaw people claimed he was APC national leader nor the godfather of all godfathers

True, but he is a former President of Nigeria, and last I checked, past Presidents of Nigeria influence present governments to lobby on behalf of others who run to them to secure appointments. Like our Yoruba brothers would say in one of their proverbs, "ko le tan lara omo oba ko ma ku dansaki".

Transliteration: A prince can never lose all, he'd still command respect and acknowledgement.

chukwudi44:
How come no one is going to bourdillon the home of the APC "national leader" and widely acclaimed godfather of all godfathers to lobby for appointments

Nothing lasts forever, parade don change gear be that. Good for our politics though

chukwudi44:

Tinubu does NOT exist in ekiti state YET

I added two words to your quote; "NOT" and "YET". It's only a matter of time. When he started out, he did so with Lagos and Lagos alone before moving out to Ogun, Oyo, Osun etc... It's only a matter of time. The man is a communication network on his own. He's fast covering grounds.

wapSmart:
Bro. Sanchez abegii leave matter joor who will go to a president who didnt know that corruption was so much under him..

I hope Jonathan didnt utter such but if it is veracious that he did, then he just shoot himself more in the leg

Corruption is not even the issue. Imagine an immediate past President who cries at the door of Abdusalam Abubakar just because he wants to see PMB. What influence does such a man command, biko?

Tambuwal too forming Boss



I day laff oooo

has always been like this....didn't start yesterday.Shameless men.

chukwudi44:
How come no one is going to bourdillon the home of the APC "national leader" and widely acclaimed godfather of all godfathers to lobby for appointments

Daily you confirm Tinubu as your greatest problem in life.

He doesn't even know you exist. Your rantings have never deterred him in his political exploits. Yet you always aimlessly try to link any un-associated political news with that name, ensuring the name continues to linger - despite your true intentions to the contrary.

Obijulius:
Bourdillion is for local politics. Sokoto, Niger, Anambra and Delta is where power is brokered in Nigeria.

Masturbaters oya come and eat.

I can see it hurt you so much that Amala and Janja-weed party is now the government of the day.

I can only pray it hurt more.

At the end of the day Mr Bourdillon without political office will still stroll into Aso Villa as he pleases while you continue to broker power within your opposition party.

StOla:


I can see it hurt you so much that Amala and Janja-weed party is now the government of the day.

I can only pray it hurt more.

At the end of the day Mr Bourdillon without political office will still stroll into Aso Villa as he pleases while you continue to broker power within your opposition party.

Lmaoooooo

What is the essence of this lobbying, can any reasonable person here tell me? Or is there official special benefit attached to being a committee chairman? If change had really come, lobbying for such should have been done away with. Because the last time I checked, members lobby for the purpose of being bribed during oversight. Trap should be set for these dishonourable members using civil servants.

Hmmmmm,we shall see

In other news,order your football jerseys
https://www.nairaland.com/2447345/2015-2016-new-jerseys-available/2

Ok

#happy birthday to all nairalanderz celebrating their bday this day! Llp

I dedicate this space to August babies on nairaland

GOOD MORNING ALL!!

Its the apc wagons again this early morning! Ewwh!


Its their dubious act that is the first to make FP today!

And obasanjo wouldn't wake up and tell buhari what to do in a situation like this. Ehn?