The Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Hon. Azeezat Yishawu, has congratulated the governor of Sokoto state, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, on his emergence as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF).
Yishawu in a statement she issued in Abuja on Thursday, described Tambuwal as a great parliamentarian, and a legislator per excellence, who
rose through the ranks to become the Speaker of the House of Representatives and subsequently a two-term governor of Sokoto sate.
She said: “Tambuwal is a Paliarmentary democrat and a man of many parts who has been able to distinguish himself in all of them. Some of his other achievements include: Leader of the Nigerian Delegation to African, Caribbean, Pacific, and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly; Leader of the Federal Government team to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia regarding the controversial denial of visas to Nigerian female pilgrims; Member, International Bar Association, Member, Nigerian bar Association; Member, National Executive Committee Nigerian Bar Association; Alumnus, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, USA; Alumnus, Oxford University; Stanford Graduate School of Business, USA; Alumnus, Tulane University, USA; Alumnus, Usman Danfodio University Sokoto; Alumnus, Nigerian Law School; Regional Representative Commonwealth Parliamentary Association, Variously State Organising Secretary and Legal Adviser of Political Parties, distinguished member of the highest professional decision-making body of the Nigerian Legal Profession-The Body of Benchers.
“It was therefore not surprising that when the time came to elect a Speaker for the House, Tambuwal was the preferred candidate of his colleagues. His nationalistic vision, his leadership by consensus, and his popularity with people across party, religion and ethnic lines, had earned him their trust to lead the 7th House of Representatives as Speaker.
“Tambuwal used his political talent to deepen the country’s democracy by strengthening the principle of separation of powers as well as asserting the independence of the legislature as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution.
“His Excellency Alhaji Aminu Waziri Tambuwal’s achievements as governor, he further displayed his political sagacity by embarking on several developmental projects in critical sectors. These include education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure and urban and rural development among others, some of which include the state-of-the-art Sokoto State University Teaching Hospital, two ongoing fly over bridges, three premier hospitals and several others.
“Tambuwal, as governor, has expectedly prioritised youth and women by engaging them in governance and politics. It is evident by the appointment of a 32-year-old as a member of state executive council and several others as his special advisers, senior special assistants and special assistants.
In terms of women inclusion in governance, a number of them are appointed as commissioners, special advisers, permanent secretaries, directors general, SSAs, special assistants and three councillors each in every of the 23 local government areas of Sokoto State.
“This is because of his leadership qualities and his vast experience in governance, being a lawyer and legal expert who rose to become a life bencher. Many years after, reminiscing on his life and achievements in public service, his colleague in the House of Representatives then and now the Majority Leader of the House, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila (APC, Lagos) described Tambuwal’s leadership as “exemplary and unparalleled, adding that he (Tambuwal) has an uncanny ability to be at 100 places at the same time. He is a bridge builder per excellence.”
