Nigeria Police Lock Out Tambuwal From National Assembly
Published on Thursday, 20 November 2014 10:50
Written by Turaki A. Hassan, Musa Abdullahi Krishi & Ibrahim Kabiru Sule
Nigerian Daily Trust
…Lawmakers, supporters scale fence
Armed soldiers, Policemen and operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) on Thursday morning tried to stop Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from entering the national assembly complex.
He managed to gain entrance with the support of some of his colleagues. Our correspondents report plenary had started in the chambers with journalists locked out.
The speaker arrived the gate of the national assembly at about 10:50 am with many lawmakers providing shield around him.
The gates were locked but he alighted from his car and trekked to the locked gate with other lawmakers in his company.
It took the efforts of some lawmakers to force the pedestrian gate open before Tambuwal gained access to the complex.
After beating security to enter the premises, police threw tear gas canisters at him and lawmakers accompanying him.
This however, didn't deter the Speaker from entering the chamber.
The lawmakers who shielded him led by Deputy Minority Leader Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila chanted “we're ready to die! We're ready to die!" Some of them scaled the fence to gain entry.
The Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha was allowed entry without incident when he arrived earlier before Tambuwal.
Speaker Tambuwal’s ordeal may not be unconnected with his defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He had reconvened the House today in order to consider the emergency rule extension request by
President Goodluck Jonathan. The Inspector General of Police withdrew all security details of speaker Tambuwal after he defected to the APC, arguing that he was no longer the speaker of the house.
Earlier, the Head of the National Assembly security outfit Sergeant-at-Arms Mr. Ndako was arrested by the men of the Nigerian Police Force over his refusal to open the House of Representatives chambers for them.
Indications that all is not well emerged late evening on Wednesday when security was beefed up in and around the complex by police and DSS officials.
Our correspondents observed that the security was further increased in the premises of the parliament building especially around the House of Representatives chambers.
All other gates leading to the National Assembly, including the one through Presidential Villa, were closed, leaving only the main gate.
The security men were seen stopping and searching everyone entering the Assembly complex, including lawmakers for identification.
Police officers had demanded that Mr. Ndako give them keys to the House chambers but he declined as his office is responsible for the security and maintenance of the chambers.
This didn't go down well with the police who whisked him and his deputy to the FCT police command for "questioning", according to security sources in the National Assembly but were later returned to the National Assembly.
Details coming…
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| Vehicle of the Nigerian Speaker of the Assembly blocked from entering parliament by police on Nov. 20, 2014. |
Written by Turaki A. Hassan, Musa Abdullahi Krishi & Ibrahim Kabiru Sule
Nigerian Daily Trust
…Lawmakers, supporters scale fence
Armed soldiers, Policemen and operatives of the Department of State Security Service (DSS) on Thursday morning tried to stop Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal from entering the national assembly complex.
He managed to gain entrance with the support of some of his colleagues. Our correspondents report plenary had started in the chambers with journalists locked out.
The speaker arrived the gate of the national assembly at about 10:50 am with many lawmakers providing shield around him.
The gates were locked but he alighted from his car and trekked to the locked gate with other lawmakers in his company.
It took the efforts of some lawmakers to force the pedestrian gate open before Tambuwal gained access to the complex.
After beating security to enter the premises, police threw tear gas canisters at him and lawmakers accompanying him.
This however, didn't deter the Speaker from entering the chamber.
The lawmakers who shielded him led by Deputy Minority Leader Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila chanted “we're ready to die! We're ready to die!" Some of them scaled the fence to gain entry.
The Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha was allowed entry without incident when he arrived earlier before Tambuwal.
Speaker Tambuwal’s ordeal may not be unconnected with his defection to the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
He had reconvened the House today in order to consider the emergency rule extension request by
President Goodluck Jonathan. The Inspector General of Police withdrew all security details of speaker Tambuwal after he defected to the APC, arguing that he was no longer the speaker of the house.
Earlier, the Head of the National Assembly security outfit Sergeant-at-Arms Mr. Ndako was arrested by the men of the Nigerian Police Force over his refusal to open the House of Representatives chambers for them.
Indications that all is not well emerged late evening on Wednesday when security was beefed up in and around the complex by police and DSS officials.
Our correspondents observed that the security was further increased in the premises of the parliament building especially around the House of Representatives chambers.
All other gates leading to the National Assembly, including the one through Presidential Villa, were closed, leaving only the main gate.
The security men were seen stopping and searching everyone entering the Assembly complex, including lawmakers for identification.
Police officers had demanded that Mr. Ndako give them keys to the House chambers but he declined as his office is responsible for the security and maintenance of the chambers.
This didn't go down well with the police who whisked him and his deputy to the FCT police command for "questioning", according to security sources in the National Assembly but were later returned to the National Assembly.
Details coming…
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