How Tambuwal won my heart — Obasanjo

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday explained how the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, won his heart when he was elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, even though he was not his preferred choice for the post.

He, however, said Tambuwal won his hearts with his performance as the number four citizen.

The former president, who spoke at the Youth Development Centre of the Olusegun Obasanjo Library (OOPL), which organized the Youth Governance Dialogue session, in Abeokuta, yesterday, remarked that Tambuwal was an example of some of the identified successful youths in politics.

Speaking on ‘Enhancing Youth Participation in Politics,’ with Tambuwal in attendance, Obasanjo noted that Nigerian youths needed positive mentoring and patience to succeed.

He said on Tambuwal: “Mr Governor, I would apologize that I am going to embarrass you small. When you emerged as the speaker, you know I was not satisfied; because that was not the arrangement of the then PDP. It was the former administration and the then leadership that did that and I expressed my view.

“When you came to me, I told you that you were not the problem, but the party then. I told you that I am pleased by the reports I got of you as the speaker, and again I am still getting good report of you in your state. You are one of the examples of the youth that have been doing well in politics,” Obasanjo said.

The former president expressed fear of youth explosion in the country.

“My greatest worry for Africa and Nigeria is the anger and frustration of the youth that will lead to explosion; it will know no bound,” he said.

Tambuwal, while presenting his opening speech with the topic, ‘Preparing Successor Generation for Effective Participation in Governance,’ said on the youth, “We cannot keep calling them leaders of tomorrow without ensuring that we put in place, deliberate measures that will aid their quest for public service.”