Birthday Colloquium Was Chance For Confession, APC Tells Tambuwal

The Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has criticised former Speaker of the House of Representatives and ex-Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, over his comment that Nigeria is in peril and urgently needs salvation.

Tambuwal remarked on Saturday at a high-profile colloquium in Abuja organised to mark his 60th birthday. This event drew former presidents, vice presidents, political leaders and statesmen to deliberate on the state of Nigeria’s democracy and governance.

Speaking at the event, Tambuwal lamented the current state of Nigeria, noting that the country has fallen short of the expectations of those who laid the foundation of its democracy.

“This is not where we expected to be. Those who laid the foundation of our democracy, some alive, many no longer living, are not happy, even in their graves, with the current situation in Nigeria,” he said.

He further called on Nigerians across political, ethnic and religious divides to unite in rescuing the country, stressing that the nation’s challenges require collective responsibility.

“The only way out is for all of us to agree that there is something fundamentally wrong with what we are doing as a country. Our nation is in peril, and we are in search of salvation. This is a collective process,” Tambuwal added.

However, reacting in a statement on Monday, the Lagos APC described Tambuwal’s remarks as alarmist and accused him of lacking the moral authority to make such pronouncements, given his years in public office.

In the statement signed by its spokesman, Seye Oladejo, the party said Tambuwal’s 60th birthday colloquium should have been used as an opportunity for sober reflection, confession and restitution to Nigerians, rather than what it described as political sermonising.

“At moments like this, statesmanship demands introspection and restitution grandstanding. Nigerians remember the years when Tambuwal occupied strategic positions in government and the dividends of leadership expected at those times. Sadly, rather than offering a candid reckoning with his record or apologising for missed opportunities, he has chosen to sermonise from a pedestal of selective amnesia.

“More instructively, his recent 60th birthday colloquium presented a rare lifeline to truly confess, seek forgiveness, and embrace restitution from a nation that gave him so much but received next to nothing in return.

“It was an auspicious occasion that should have lent itself to sober reflection and an honest recap of stewardship. Instead, that opportunity was cleverly sidestepped. Tales of sainthood ring hollow when public service records and recent legal tussles over graft remain unresolved footnotes that were conspicuously omitted,” the party said.

The APC argued that Nigeria’s current challenges did not occur overnight, nor were they caused solely by the present administration, noting that many political actors now warning of national peril were active participants in policies and leadership decisions that contributed to the country’s difficulties.

It also dismissed Tambuwal’s comments as selective amnesia, insisting that speaking of Nigeria’s peril without acknowledging personal responsibility amounted to political convenience.

Reaffirming support for President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, the Lagos APC said ongoing reforms aimed at stabilising the economy, improving security and restoring institutional credibility require patience, sincerity and collective responsibility.

The party urged Tambuwal and his associates to rise above political theatre and contribute constructively to national development through humility, accountability and support for reforms designed to move the nation forward.

“We therefore urge Tambuwal and his cohort to rise above political theatre. If salvation is truly the concern, it should begin with humility, restitution, and support for reforms that move the nation forward. Anything short of this is noise – loud, convenient, and ultimately hollow,” APC added.