A mild drama preceded the parley of the more than two dozen members of the caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which met Tuesday when Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, described himself as ‘property’ of the president.
Tambuwal had in recent time, absented himself from major federal government-organised events, while showing up in those organised by the opposition.
The dignitaries, were walking in group, with President Goodluck Jonathan holding the hand of Tambuwal closely, when he (Jonathan jocularly asked the Speaker where he had been all along, and Tambuwal, while laughing, answered: “I am your property Mr. President. I am not hiding.”
Tambuwal was initially absent at an earlier meeting the president had with the leadership of the National Assembly and the Secretary to Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Tuesday evening.
The Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerenmadu, had rationalised the absence of his principal, David Mark, Tambuwal and other principal officers of the National Assembly by saying the evening meeting was ‘impromptu.’ “We have contacted all of them and they are all coming back,” he said.
He explained that: “You know we are on break and some have travelled. But because of the consultation going on, some are on their way back. The Speaker is on his way back to Abuja, the Senate President ought to have travelled to China, he is also on his way back. He has changed his plans to come back. The Senate Leader is also on his way back from Calabar, the House Leader is also on her way back.
The caucus meeting, which started at about 9:p.m. had in attendance Vice-President, Namadi Sambo; the National Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, who according to the constitution of the party, was expected to preside over all national caucus meetings of the party.
The deputy speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon.Emeka Ihedioha, some principal officers of the National Assembly and chairman of the party’s Board of Trustees (BoT) are members of the caucus.
Neophytes in the caucus meeting, who were drafted into the ensemble in March are: chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom, Governor Theodore Orji of Abia, representing the South-east; the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Dezani Alison-Madueke and her counterpart in the ministry of transport, Senator Idris Umar.
The new members of the party’s caucus got drafted into the group via a letter signed by the Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Oghiadomhe, February 27.
The duties of the national caucus, states the party’s constitution include the harmonisation of the relationship between the executive and the legislative arms of government and the coordination of their activities and those of the party.
It also has the function of considering, reviewing and advising on policies and programmes of government. A quorum of the national caucus can be formed when two-thirds of its members are in attendance.
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