Security siege on National Assembly

Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other members of the lower chamber were yesterday teargased by the police who attempted to prevent the lawmakers from gaining access to the National Assembly.Members of the House, who were on recess, had converged to hold a special session to deliberate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s […]

Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and other members of the lower chamber were yesterday teargased by the police who attempted to prevent the lawmakers from gaining access to the National Assembly.
Members of the House, who were on recess, had converged to hold a special session to deliberate on President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for the extension of the emergency rule in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.
Tambuwal, who arrived at the gate at exactly 11.am, was prevented from entering the building as the policemen locked the gate and refused to open it even when the Speaker came out of his car.
Security men, including the police and operatives of the State Security Services, mounted a blockade and searched all lawmakers and staff entering the assembly.
How the drama unfolded
Before his entry, however, there was a serious drama as Tambuwal was shunned by the policemen on duty when he tried to talk to them.
The Speaker said to them: “Hello! Who is the most senior officer here? Can I talk to you please?” but none of the policemen responded to him.
He waited for some time and pointed at one of them, saying “Could you please approach me? Do you recognise me? I’m Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Can you allow me to enter and inspect the National Assembly complex?” Yet, none of the policemen responded.
At this point, Tambuwal, who was shielded by about 20 lawmakers stayed back, while his colleagues tried to make way for him.
The lawmakers, led by deputy minority leader Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu Sumaila, Rep Zakari Mohammed and Rep Rufai Chanchangi shouted “we’re ready to die; we’re ready to die!” They also told the policemen manning the gate that “you must open this gate!”
It took several minutes before they could open the pedestrian gate for Tambuwal to enter. More than 20 of them later scaled through the gate top.
Those who scaled through the gate included Kawu, minority leader Femi Gbajabiamila, Rep Babangida Mahuta (APC, Katsina), Rep Usman Abdulmalik Cheche (PDP, Niger), Rep Solomon Adeola Olamilekan (APC, Lagos), Rep Victor Afam Ogene (APGA, Anambra), among many others.
Some of the lawmakers who jumped the gate had to remove their shoes, while others were assisted by their colleagues and aides who lifted them over the gate.
After Tambuwal and his entourage had gained entry, policemen threw tear gas in his direction, forcing him and his colleagues to cover their noses with handkerchief.
The Speaker had to rush to his office along with his colleagues where they stayed for some time before proceeding to the chamber.
Many legislative and other ad-hoc staff at the Assembly complex were affected by the tear gas as everybody avoided the assembly lobby, where several of the tear gas canisters were thrown.
We were out to enforce order – Police
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba has said that the deployment of police personnel in the National Assembly was meant to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
In a statement by the spokesman of the Police, acting Commissioner of Police (CP) Emmanuel Ojukwu, the IGP said: “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.
“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, evaded due process and the Police had the duty to restore order and normalcy, using lawful means.”
He said the police will continue to 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 assaulted, shuts down assembly
When Senate President David Mark, who is the chairman of the National Assembly, rushed to the lower chamber to calm down the angry lawmakers, they told him to leave the House and accused him of weakening the legislature by always “dancing to the tune of the presidency.”
The lawmakers called him “stooge”, just as some of them began shouting on top of their voices. While this was still going on some members began advancing towards Mark, pushing him and throwing punches towards him.
Rep. Tajuddeen Yusuf (PDP, Kogi), who stepped in to protect Mark, was assaulted by one of his colleagues.
Although the tear gas thrown was targeted at Tambuwal and his colleagues that shielded him, Mark and some senators were  also affected.
Emergency deliberations deferred
The lawmakers later sat at plenary and went into a closed-door session where they lamented the treatment meted out on their leader.
They also deferred consideration of Jonathan’s request, saying they were under siege, and as such, they would not deliberate on the extension until December 3 when they will return from their 5-week break.
House spokesman Zakari Mohammed told journalists that the lower chamber would not consider the matter till members return, but added that Jonathan could use his powers to deploy more troops to the insurgency-hit areas if he so desired.
Tambuwal later said on the floor of the House that “House has agreed to adjourn to Dec 3. We are under siege, as such, we can’t deliberate on state of emergency.”
The lawmakers described the harassment on Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal by men of the Nigeria Police at the National Assembly gate yesterday as an assault on the legislature.
They said it was a bad precedence set in the country’s democracy, which should not be allowed unchallenged.
Reps move against Jonathan, Ihedioha
Following the developments at the House, the lawmakers yesterday started collecting signatures as a prelude to initiating impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan.
A member from Kano State tabled the motion to his colleagues which contains 20 impeachable offences against the president.
Reps Mohammed Ali Wudil, Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC Kano) and Abdul Msheliza from Borno State said they have all endorsed the motion, adding that no fewer than 113 members of the House have endorsed the motion and more have indicated their interest to do so.
One of the lawmakers told Daily Trust that “I can confirm to you that 113 members have signed the impeachment notice. Interestingly, it cuts across party lines because members of the PDP also signed the same document.”
The lawmakers have also commenced an impeachment move against the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha, who was allowed into the chamber, along with many others long before Tambuwal’s arrival.
On Ihedioha’s offences, the lawmaker said, “He is part and parcel of all these things you saw. We’ve not been happy with what he has been doing, so he has to go too.”
However, when contacted on Jonathan’s impeachment plot, House spokesman Mohammed said “there is no such thing officially,” but he added that “we’re not foreclosing other things.”
Asked about Ihedioha, Zakari also said there is no official stand on that.
When contacted, Ihedioha’s spokesman Oke Epia did not respond to a text message sent to his mobile phone at the time of filing this report.
 Sambo, Ihedioha, others meet secretly
Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo yesterday evening met with principal officers of the House of Representatives elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)
The close-door meeting was held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja hours after security agents had prevented some lawmakers, including the speaker, from entering the National Assembly.
The principal officers of the House were led into the meeting by Tambuwal’s deputy, Mr Emeka Ihedioha.
In attendance were House Leader Mrs Mulikat Adeola-Akande, Deputy House Leader Mr Leo Ogor and Chief Whip Ishaku Bawa.
Sambo’s meeting with the legislators took place minutes after President Goodluck Jonathan had left for London to preside over a meeting of the Nigeria’s Honorary International Investment Council.
None of the legislators spoke to State House correspondents after the meeting which lasted for about one-and-a-half-hours.
Buhari, Atiku, APC react
Commenting on the development, former Head of State and presidential aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) retired General Muhammadu Buhari said if truly the Speaker of the House of Representatives was thus humiliated then those who are supposed to defend the constitution are subverting it.
Former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, in a statement issued by his media office in reaction to the incident at the National Assembly, said the siege mentality of the Jonathan administration poses grave threats to Nigeria’s democracy, the rule of law and the separation of powers as enshrined in the 1999 constitution as amended.
The APC  accused the police of acting on the directives of President Goodluck Jonathan to pave the way for Mr. Tambuwal’s removal as speaker and called for sanctions against the Inspector General of Police.
Presidency: Pandemonium unfortunate
The Presidency has condemned yesterday’s pandemonium at the National Assembly Complex, describing it as very unfortunate.
Addressing journalists in Abuja later yesterday, the Senior Special Assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Public Affairs, Doyin Okupe, said: “The whole scenario as we witnessed it is rather unfortunate”.
Okupe said the Presidency wished that at all times, national interest should supersede all other interests including personal and political interests.