Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal on Saturday told Police Inspector-General Suleiman Abba that he was not scared of being arrested by the law enforcement agency that had since Thursday received the heat of a disgraceful showing at the National Assembly where it blocked the Speaker and his loyalists from gaining access into the chamber while allowing the Deputy Speaker, Emeka Ihedioha and some others.
The situation had resulted in near fracas with many of the legislators scaling fences to gain access into the chamber amid shooting of tear gas by the police.
Many Nigerians and organised labour organisations are already calling for the sack of Abba for going beyond his constitutional powers just to satisfy some political interests.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had also on Friday retraced its steps of blaming Tambuwal for the incident. It now heaped the blame on the police and absolved itself and President Goodluck Jonathan of involvement in the crisis at the National Assembly.
“Whilst we acknowledge that due to the security challenges in the country, the security agencies are within their constitutional powers to search individuals and ensure that only responsible and duly accredited persons gain entrance into the National Assembly complex, we wish to state in strongest possible terms that we are with President in not condoning any act that might indicate that the police went beyond their bounds in the incident,” a statement by Olisa Metuh said.
“The PDP is known for its unwavering stand in upholding the tenets of democracy. Our stand for justice, fairness, and equity at all times remains undiluted. In the same vein, President Goodluck Jonathan has been very humble and forthright in upholding these principles and rights of citizens. He has instituted free, fair and credible elections and remains unwavering that his ambition does not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
“In this regard, we call for a full investigation to unravel the circumstances surrounding the incident within the next 72 hours. Nigerians deserve to know the truth at all times.”
On Friday, Abba reportedly ordered that Tambuwal should be invited and that where he refused to honour the invitation, he should be arrested.
But in a statement by Tambuwal through Imam Imam on Saturday, the Speaker said: “the attention of the Hon Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal CFR, has been drawn to publications in the media to the effect that the Inspector General of Police has ordered that he, Speaker, be invited to the Force Headquarters and that he be arrested if he resisted.
“The Honorable Speaker wishes to state that he is a law abiding citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who has no immunity against arrest and prosecution except privileges as may be provided by the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act.
“Accordingly, the Hon Speaker states for the records that he is available, ready and willing to answer any lawful invitation from any of the security agencies on any matter for which they may require his attention.
“The Speaker expresses dismay at the unprofessional conduct of the Nigerian Police in the attempt to stop him from accessing the House of Representatives chambers on the 20th November 2014 to preside over the Special Session of the House on the State of Emergency Extension requested by Mr President, for which he had recalled members from their working recess.
“Most disgraceful is the false statement later issued by the Police in which they claimed that in the lawful exercise of their duties ‘Alh Aminu Tambuwal CFR, arrived the venue with a motley crowd, who broke the cordon, assaulted the Police and evaded due process’.
“This blatant falsehood coming from a law enforcement agency that is expected to be neutral and lawful, is unfortunate, to say the least.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the Hon Speaker came to National Assembly accompanied by Hon Members as is customary during any sitting of the House. They all came with their official vehicles but were disallowed from driving into the premises.
“Certainly Honourable members, who arrived the precinct of the National Assembly in response to a call to perform an urgent, critical national assignment, cannot be described by any self respecting institution as ‘a motley crowd.”
