Some stories are best told straight. Just when it seems the Jonathan administration has hit the lowest ebb in governance capacity and signaling for real national rebirth, it manages to find a further depth in ignominy. The dramatic turn of events in which the Nigerian police unleashed mayhem at the hallowed grounds of the National Assembly, in a desperate attempt to prevent the convoy of House Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, from gaining access into parliament, is, to say the least, disgraceful and totally condemnable. The impunity and lawlessness is another flagrant disrespect of democracy. It is a betrayal of public trust and a sickening reflection of the despicable depth of politicking that reinforces Nigeria’s image as a highly dysfunctional society where bizarre things can happen. The untold embarrassment and national disgrace is against all known norms of political decorum, and a shame that further diminishes the President and his Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
From all indications, the political onslaught against the House Speaker, who defected from the PDP to the opposition APC, seems to have been orchestrated and masterminded by unseen powers in Aso Rock, and the incontrovertible complicity of the presidency is illustrated by the belated and tepid justification of the barbaric police action by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe. That armed police officers barricaded and tear-gas the elected representatives of the Nigerian people is beyond reprehensible. It is nothing but a manifestation of the deepening culture of impunity and “do-or-die” politics, devoid of maturity and tolerance that has taken the country hostage. This is unacceptable; it is not what Nigerians voted for.
Available reports said Speaker Tambuwal, accompanied by some of his colleagues, was tear-gassed by the police and forced to trek from the main gate to the main Parliament complex also known as “White House” after his convoy was barred, allegedly on “orders from above” even though the convoy of the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha was earlier allowed to pass through the same route. Available reports said, despite formally introducing himself at one of the three barricaded gates as the House Speaker, the security operatives led by the FCT Police Commissioner, Wilson Inalegwu, barred Tambuwal, who was scheduled to preside at a special session of the House, reconvened to consider the President’s request to extend emergency rule in the three states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe.
Tambuwal was reportedly informed of a small gate which was half-opened and as he alongside some MPs made their way into the complex, the police fired several rounds of tear-gas canisters at him while his colleagues and some aides formed a ring to shield him. The drama continued after the speaker’s entry as other lawmakers who were hitherto not allowed into the complex had to resort to scaling the heavy metal barricade. Those who made their way in through climbing included the Minority leader, Femi Gbajabiamila. On sighting the Speaker at the lobby, the police fired more tear-gas into the lobby, igniting pandemonium, and forcing everyone around to scamper for safety as Tambuwal was guarded into the chamber. In the chamber, Senate President, David Mark, was greeted by hostility from House reps who expressed fury at his belated show of concern, alleging he was part of the plot by the executive. Mark who could not gain audience from the House leadership subsequently announced the shutting down of Parliament till next Tuesday. He also summoned the Inspector-General of Police to appear before the Senate. All this indeed is insane!
The situation is bewildering because it is happening under a supposedly democratic dispensation. Also, it is ironic because democracy is generally reputed to have inbuilt institutional mechanisms, both formal and informal, for addressing political differences and conflict of interests at all levels. Unfortunately, the President has opted to unnecessarily suffocate the political space through the excessive deployment of the power of incumbency. But recourse to the abuse of state authority, as this case suggests, is not a sign of political strength. Rather, it is a manifestation of an embarrassingly low level of political maturity, as much as a sign of indecorum, especially by the Presidency. Else, how can the spectacle of the police tear-gasing the House speaker; the nation’s number four personality be explained?
The police said in a statement that due to “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.” Ojukwu said the police had cordoned off the National Assembly and began screening of all members and visitors who wished to access the building. “In the course of this lawful exercise, Aminu Tambuwal, CFR, arrived at 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.” This is obviously an insult on the collective intelligence of Nigerians. Assuming for a while that these allegations are true, isn’t there a civilized way of maintaining law and order without resorting to brigandage that embarrasses the nation? To any discerning mind, the charade smacks of persecution and nothing else. After 15 years of democracy, there should be no more room for such conducts.
Despite the public outrage at the abusive display of police power, the Presidency shamelessly defended the police, even though the real reason for the raging feud is public knowledge. Jonathan loyalists are victimizing the Speaker for defecting to the APC, in a manner considered an affront to the second term ambition of the incumbent president. But those piqued by Tambuwal’s politics may want to consider the circumstances that led to his emergence as Speaker. Tambuwal’s speakership was not the making of any political party; therefore to have expected him to pander to the executive was mere wishful thinking. But the PDP want their pound of flesh. As an indication of their anger, and as a first step in the battle to subjugate him, his security detail was withdrawn and they sought to prevent him from continuing as House speaker. Even after a court maintained Tambuwal remains speaker, they are determined to make him more or less a persona non grata within the National Assembly.
Nigeria needs peace; there is enough cataclysm and wailings to which there has been no respite. The President need not open new terrains of chaos with Machiavellian tactics against political opponents. Jonathan has become notorious for deploying state authority to settle scores with perceived political enemies. The Presidency may claim ignorance, but Nigerians know who is behind the police action. This invariably causes a loss of credibility that is not only bad for the President; it may actually cause him outright loss of political capital and electoral value next year. Jonathan must end this desperation over 2015 and concentrate on governance. Whenever democracy is under assault, all well-meaning Nigerians should defend it. The time to rise in defence of democracy is now!
