Police take over NASS, tear-gas lawmakers

Lawmakers scaling gate of National Assembly as Police

blocked National Assembly gate in Abuja

Heavily armed policemen, yesterday, invaded the National Assembly complex, tear-gassed and tried to prevent members of the House of Representatives, including the Speaker, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, from entering the complex.

This forced some lawmakers to scale the fence in order to enter the chambers for their legislative duties.

In an unprecedented action since return to democratic rule, the police fired tear gas in the arcade of the complex after several legislators, who had escorted the speaker, successfully breached the Police barricade to smuggle him inside the main complex of the National Assembly.

A number of legislators who could not pass through the side gate where the speaker went through, eventually scaled the fence to enter the complex.

Once in the chambers, members who were provoked by the development almost went into a riotous mood and some even tried to fence out President of the Senate, Senator David Mark who interrupted proceedings in the Senate to cross the lobby to investigate the developments in the House. Livid members also, yesterday, commenced collection of signatures in support of an impeachment notice against President Goodluck Jonathan and 120 signatures had been collected by last night.

Following his discussion with the speaker, Senator Mark ordered shutdown of the National Assembly complex till next Tuesday. He also summoned the Inspector-General of Police, Suleiman Abba to report on Tuesday to give explanations for the development.

Meanwhile, the Police yesterday cited receipt of intelligence information on the possible invasion of the National Assembly by hoodlums for their action.

 

Tambuwal faces policemen

“Gentlemen, my names are Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and I am the Speaker of this House,” Tambuwal told the policemen who all without exception ignored him and turned their backs on him.

Again, the speaker said: “I am here as our constitution demands to go in and preside over the sitting of the House. Officers, I would like to know who is the commanding officer here.

“Can you identify me as the Speaker of this House?”, he asked. The policemen who stuck to their guns remained mute, leaving the speaker to himself.

Having received no response from them, Tambuwal moved back and stood in the sun, waiting for a likely commanding officer to come. By 11.20 a.m. the speaker having been tipped-off about a small gate which was half opened, marched forward alongside a few members and made his way in before the police could realize.

Even after the speaker had smuggled himself in, the police were unyielding as they kept other members of his entourage outside forcing a number of them to scale the gate into the National Assembly complex.

Among them were the Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila who last night described Thursday (yesterday) as a day that would forever live in infamy being the day he had to jump the fence to where he works.

Among other notable persons who scaled the fence to enter the National Assembly complex were the Deputy Minority Leader, Suleiman Kawu (Kano); Bimbo Daramola (Ekiti), Samuel Adejare (Lagos), Mohammed Bago, Niger; Babatunde Adejare, Lagos; and Aman Pategi among many others.

After the speaker and his entourage successfully entered the second gate, they were met by some other legislators who came in from within the chambers to receive him and marched in solidarity through the arcade to the White House, where the main chambers are located. As they marched, the police in a last minute burst to deter the lawmakers fired tear gas in their direction, but the speaker and his entourage were determined as they marched purposefully towards the main building and once inside proceeded straight into the chambers were the speaker was hailed by members who sang solidarity songs of victory. Tear gas was also hurled into the lobby leading to the Senate and House chambers as a final act of deterrence, but it was to no avail.

Senator Mark who entered the chambers of the House on hearing of the development had a tough time approaching the speaker’s podium as many members who viewed him with suspicion sought to fence him out.

Also after a closed-door session that lasted more than two hours, Speaker Tambuwal declared that with the House of Representatives under siege the House would remain adjourned till December 3.

Briefing newsmen after the closed-door session, House spokesman Zakari Mohammed declared that the House was under siege and called on the President to rely on provisions of the 1999 Constitution bordering on Sections 218, 217(2c) 33, 14, 42b to prosecute whatever situation in the country."

He said: “The House needs a maximum of 10 days and a minimum of two days to sit on such a national matter but for now no extension of the emergency rule”. Reacting to a question on whether there was a move to impeach the deputy speaker, Ihedioha, Mohammed said “there was no plan like that by members”.