As Nigerians took to various social media to pour out their anger at the Nigerian Police for its shameful showing at the National Assembly on Thursday, the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba, has explained that the deployment of security agents to the National Assembly was because the police preempted that Speaker Aminu Tambuwal was coming to the sitting with thugs.
After Tambuwal’s defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the police had, withdrawn the Speaker’s security and refused to reinstate them even after the court ruled that the status quo be maintained.
On Thursday, the armed security operatives barred Tambuwal and his loyalists from both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the APC from entering the National Assembly. Some of the lawmakers had to scale the fence to gain access into the chamber. The action of the Police resulted in confusion and pandemonium as the Speaker’s loyalists who had gained entrance into the chamber, came out, overpowered the security agents and destroyed the gates to allow the Speaker enter the chamber.
At some point, the Police began to shoot teargas to disperse the people when the tension go to its peak. Mark also ordered the closing down of the National Assembly to forestall bloodshed.
Many Nigerians who condemned the action of the police tied the nation’s fragile democracy to Abba, the Senate President, David Mark and the presidency.
In a bid to save himself and his institution from further condemnation, Abba said in a statement on Thursday evening that the Police deployment was to ensure that, using lawful means, there was peace and prevent any breakdown.
“Following an intelligence report of a likely invasion of the House of Representatives by hoodlums and thugs, the Nigeria Police Force promptly deployed its personnel to the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order,” a statement signed by Emmanuel Ojukwu, Force Public Relations Officer read.
“Consequently, the Police condoned the area and began screening of all members and visitors alike.”
“In the course of this lawful exercise, Alh. Aminu Tambuwal CFR, arrived the venue with a motley crowd, who broke the cordon, assaulted the Police and evaded due process and the Police had the duty to restore order and normalcy, using lawful means.
“The IGP seizes this medium to warn all political actors and their followers to respect constituted authority and due process and to desist from the use of thugs to pursue their agenda.
“The Nigeria Police shall continually apply all lawful means to prevent a breakdown of law and order in all segments of the society and shall apply the full weight of the law on any political actor who violates the peace and security of the nation.”
Mark manhandled
Senate President David Mark experienced a share of the anger of the legislators when he was fiercely confronted and almost attacked.
Mark, who, allegedly was at the National Assembly complex when the issue went on, had visited Tambuwal shortly after the Speaker gained entrance into the chamber.
He said his visit was in solidarity with the Speaker.
But the already enraged lawmakers confronted him with some manhandling him and accusing him of selling out the Speaker. Many of the enraged lawmakers were said to have reminded him of the danger that was been posed to Nigeria’s democracy.
Witnesses said at a time, Mark almost tripped.
“This was partly why he was moved to announce the closure of the chamber,” a staff of the Assembly said.
The Senate also immediately summoned the Inspector-General of Police to come and explain why he would send his men to the Assembly to cause mayhem and distabilise activities.
Many of the senators also berated Abba saying he took his powers too far.
The House of Representatives members later met in an executive session, deliberated on the request by President Goodluck Jonathan for an extension of the emergency in three states of the federation and rejected it.
The lawmakers instead asked the President to rely on some sessions of the constitution to increase the number of troops to the states being terrorised by the Boko Haram.
Politicians Inviting Anarchy – ARG
The Afenifere Renewal Group [ARG] has warned against the use of state security agencies to perpetuate party political agenda.
Reacting to the closure of the National Assembly by the Senate President as a result of the harassment of the Speaker of the House of Representatives by security operatives, Wale Oshun, ARG’s Chairman, said: “there appears to be an implicit intent to disintegrate this country and it appears that this is being perpetuated with the use of tax-payer-funded security agencies.
“Such brazen attack on the legislature is an attack on all Nigerians. It means we are deceiving ourselves if we believe we are under a democratic regime. An attack on the legislature is an attempt to shut down democracy and return Nigeria to autocratic rule.
“We have recently experienced abuses of the judiciary. Now it appears the next tranche is an abuse of the legislative arm of government. The question is which arm of government is next? ARG needs to warn that where institutions fail to function in support of good governance, then such a nation is on the brink of collapse.
“Just some days ago, police in South Africa were at loggerheads with South African members of parliament for absolving President Zuma of allegations of using public fund to develop personal property. That is an example of a country where institutions function accordingly unlike in Nigeria where everything is tied to President’s apron strings.
“Therefore, those that perpetrate these are inviting us to return to the trenches, and this time, we will fight the battle that will actualise our vision of and for a Yoruba Nation.
“ARG will continue to agitate for a true federal structure as a way out of this chaos as what we are experiencing is one of the many negative consequences of an over centralised federal system that has proven to be a hindrance to our development as a people.”
