The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Friday took on the Nigeria Police following the way men of the force harassed and molested members of the House of Representatives as well as Speaker Aminu Tambuwal during a sitting of the House to discuss the request by President Jonathan for an extension of emergency in three states where terrorists have continued to hold sway.
The NLC said the action of the police was as barbaric as it was shameful. It said the police, under Suleiman Abba had become very partisan carrying out unconstitutional activities
The organised labour group also asked the Inspector-General of Police to resign if he does not know what his role as the country’s police chief is or if he does not know what to do.
It said it was lamentable that the police has reduced itself to becoming tools in the hands of private individuals.
“The barricading and preventing of the Honourable Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, and members of the House of Representatives from gaining access to the premises of the National Assembly for a lawful duty; their harassment, intimidation, molestation and tear gassing by the members of the Nigeria Police Force was disgusting, barbaric and shameful.
“We at the Nigeria Labour Congress believe the conduct of the police is unlawful and an act of impunity in furtherance of partisan consideration.
“It is worrisome already that the government has done little to mitigate the damage done by its previous acts adjudged to be unconstitutional. Yet every government that seeks legitimacy must demonstrate a certain level of sophistication even in violation.
“We find the explanation by the police for their conduct, spurious and puerile and not worthy of response.
“We however, do admit we have a major problem on our hands when the police lend themselves to doing private jobs instead of their prescribed duties.
The Inspector General of Police must check himself or do the next honourable thing, resign,” NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar, said in a statement on Friday.
Continuing, the statement said: “we believe Aminu Tambuwal about whom this Gestapo operation was, holds a constitutional office and deserves all the respect and privileges befitting that office.
“It was bad enough that the IGP unlawfully withdrew his security detail. While we await the next scene after this messy attempt at denying him access to the National Assembly, we find it necessary to quote a popular Chinese proverb: ‘those who seek vengeance must dig two graves’.
“We similarly find it urgent and necessary to warn that we cannot continue like this. We shall resist with every lawful means available to us any further attempt to put in jeopardy this democracy.
“Nigerians will resist any further brazen and naked use of power or any conduct capable of truncating this democracy. The National Assembly is a critical institution in our democracy and should be accorded all the respect it deserves.”
