Heavily armed security agents made up of the police and officers of the Directorate of State Service (DSS) ,Thursday , prevented embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, from gaining entry into the National Assembly complex for a sitting of the members of the House to deliberate on the request for extension of emergency rule by President Goodluck Jonathan.
Tambuwal, two days ago announced that the House would be meeting on Thursday after he received a letter conveying the request from President Jonathan.
Huhuonline.com learnt that the Speaker, now a member of the opposition party, arrived the entrance of the Assembly complex, and was stopped by the security men, the action resulted in a pandemonium.
The gates to the complex were locked by the security men who allowed people access only through one entrance. Many of the lawmakers were also barred from entry, but most of them scaled the fence into the complex.
National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Lai Mohammed, who confirmed the situation in Abuja, said he spoke with Tambuwal “five minutes ago and he confirmed to me that he has been locked out of the National Assembly complex at the second gate.”
While Tambuwal was prevented, Emeka Ihedioha, the Deputy Speaker was allowed into the complex and was already in the chamber when Tambuwal arrived.
Lai Mohammed said the Speaker reconvened the House at the instance of the President who had written a letter to the Speaker asking for an extension of the state of emergency in the three states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno.
Mohammed said: “There must be limit to impunity and we are being ridiculed in the eyes of the world.”
In the aftermath of his defection and consequent withdrawal of his security officials, Tambuwal had secured a court ruling preventing the House from going against the status quo. At the time of this report, Huhuonline.com can report that the House was yet to sit as there was confusion.
Also, members who had hitherto been on other official and personal engagements outside Abuja have been summoned to the National Assembly.
