The Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, on Sunday visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Ogun State, where the two men held secret talks for almost an hour.
Mr. Tambuwal was accompanied by Kawu Sumaila, the deputy minority leader of the House, Ajibola Muraina, who represents Ibarapa Central/North of Oyo State, and Aminu Shagari who represents Sokoto State.
Speaking with journalists after the meeting, Mr. Tambuwal described Mr. Obasanjo as an African leader, who should be consulted on matters of national interest.
The speaker said the members of the House of Representative came to tap from Mr. Obasanjo’s wealth of experience.
“There are lots of issues in Nigeria today. Of course there is issue on Petroleum Industry Bill, PIB, that we are considering in the house, we are doing constitution amendment in the House and a host of other very key and important legislation before the parliament,” Mr. Tambuwal said.
“So we needed to consult our leaders on such very important and vital legislation before we conclude what we are doing on them and electoral act is likely to be amended. So, from his wealth of experience, we needed some input from Baba,” Mr. Tambuwal said.
“I am just visiting our national leader of PDP, myself and Baba are in PDP,” he insisted.
Although the two leaders belong to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, they are also known critics of the Goodluck Jonathan-led PDP government.
Mr. Tambuwal criticized last Thursday’s suspension of Sanusi Lamido, as governor of the Central Bank, and said the controversial move by President Goodluck Jonathan could send wrong signals to foreign investors.
“On the implications on the economy, I am not an economists but I personally felt that it will definitely send wrong signals to investors because they need to have confidence in the financial institutions particularly the independence of financial institutions of the country before foreign investors may consider such a country worthy of their investment, I have my concern about that,” Mr. Tambuwal said.
“Whether it is lawful, legal or illegal, the personality involved has told everybody that he is going to court and I believe he is already in court on that suspension,” the Speaker added.
Mr. Tambuwal said regardless of the numerous defections to opposition All Progressives Congress, APC, he remains a part of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.