APC screens Tambuwal, others in Kaduna

The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Aminu Tambuwal; Governor Abdulaziz Yariof Zamfara State were among the 15 governorship aspirants screened on Sunday by the officials of the North-West zone of the All Progressives Congress in Kaduna.Shortly after he was screened and issued a certificate of clearance, the Speaker told journalists that he was opposed to shifting or postponement the 2015 general elections beyond February 2015 as stipulated by the Independent National Electoral Commission over fears of insecurity in some parts of the country.He reasoned that despite the level of insecurity in Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq, the embattled countries still held elections, wondering why the reverse would be the case with Nigeria.The Speaker argued that all that was needed was for the Federal Government to squarely address the issue of insecurity before the February 2015 elections in the country.According to the Speaker, there was no reason for anybody to cancel the forthcoming elections, adding that those charged with the reponsibilities of protecting lives and property of Nigerians should be up and doing.Apart from government’s commitment to tackling insurgency in the land, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to rise and pray so that the the menace of terrorism did not go beyond February 2015 when the elections were expected to hold nationwide.The Speaker said, “What we should hope and pray for is that before February elections, insurgency should be addressed by the government.“There are people, who has that responsibility it is, either as number one citizen in the country or Chief of Army of Staff or the National Security Adviser or those charged with the responsibility of guaranteeing safety and security of the citizens as established by the constitution.“They should do their work and ensure that we are all secure and safe; and then, let us hope and pray that by February, we should be able to come out en masse to cast our votes.“We should pray that insecurity should not go beyond February. What we should do is that we should be positive.”Tambuwal added, “The government should work hard towards addressing insecurity. I am opposed to the postponement of the elections. Elections are being held in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq and several countries where there are security challenges.“What we should do is to address and make up our minds on the fact that there should be elections come February, 2015.”On what informed his coming out to contest the Sokoto State governorship election, Tambuwal said it was as a result of the clarion calls from the people of the state that he should offer himself to serve them.“It’s a response to the clarion calls by the people of Sokoto State for me to offer myself to serve in the capacity as governor of Sokoto State,” he said.