Subsidy: PDP leaders, Anenih, Dangote mount pressure on Tambuwal

JANUARY 14, 2012 BY OLUSOLA FABIYI, ABUJA LEAVE A COMMENT

The leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party and some prominent Nigerians visited the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, in Abuja on Friday.

They were led by the acting National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje and other members of the National Working Committee of the party. A former Minister of Works, Chief Tony Anenih was also in the entourage.

After they had departed, businessman, Alhaji Aliko Dangote and Governor Adams Oshiomohole of Edo State were also at the Speaker’s residence at Apo Legislative quarters, Abuja.

A member of the NWC told our correspondent after the visit that the party was outraged with last Sunday’s resolution of the House, in which the lawmakers asked President Goodluck Jonathan to revert to the old price of petrol at N65.

It was learnt that the leadership of the party felt that the House resolution emboldened the organised labour to go on strike, saying that if the House had not passed the resolution, labour and the civil society organisations might not have the audacity to embark on the street protests.

They, therefore, appealed to the Speaker to know that the issue of the removal of the oil subsidy was the decision of the Federal Government and the party. It was learnt that they appealed to Tambuwal to support the idea and work on his colleagues in the House to join the train.

The source said, “Yes, we went there to appeal to him. We were there after the juma’t service and the idea behind our visit was to appeal to him to talk to his colleagues to rescind their resolution in which they asked the President and the FG to revert the price of petrol to N65.

“We were not there to intimidate him as you are suggesting, but went there as the leadership of the party to have a meeting with a fellow member of the party.”

Asked what the response of Tambuwal was, the source said the Speaker said the decision taken by the House was beyond partisan politics, and that it was not taken to spite any political party.

Tambuwal, he added, told them that he would not take any decision to spite his political party.

The Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to the Speaker, Imam Imam, confirmed the visits.

He said, “The Speaker is a stakeholder in the Nigerian project. It’s therefore not surprising if prominent Nigerians from all walks of life visit him to confer with him on any issues affecting the country.”

As at the time of filling this report, labour leaders were said to be on their way to the home of the Speaker for another round of meeting.

http://www.punchng.com/news/subsidy-pdp-leaders-anenih-dangote-mount-pressure-on-tambuwal/

ok so they now want tambuwal to now call of the strike?
Cursed nation!