Embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has warned the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, against taking the path of self-destruction.
Obviously reacting to Thursday’s violent incident at the lower chamber of the National Assembly, Tambuwal stated that Abba’s leadership style, with regard to the maintenance of public order, was akin to acts of brigandage.
Speaking on Twitter through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Imam Imam, the Speaker insisted that it was expedient for the police management team led by Abba to explain to Nigerians why he (Tambuwal) should be barred from entering the parliament building on that day.
He warned that the commotion reportedly orchestrated by the police on Thursday at the National Assembly was indicative of the fact that “the drum is about to burst.”
Urging Abba to learn some lessons from the tenures of two of his predecessors – Tafa Balogun and Hafiz Ringim – Tambuwal argued that “police brigandage” always backfires.
Tambuwal warned of grave consequences for Abba’s alleged actions. Drawing the latter’s attention to the fate of Ringim, who, he claimed, had gone on “exile,” he said, “I think the police are in a better position to explain why they have to stop a Speaker from entering the parliament to preside.
“When the frenzied beating of a drum rises beyond the crescendo and becomes cacophonous, it indicates that the drum is about to burst!
“Dear IG (Abba), for lessons in police brigandage, recall what happened to your infamous predecessors: Tafa Balogun, and Hafiz Ringim.”
Accusing the police of “desecrating the sanctity of the legislature” by firing teargas canisters at federal lawmakers, the Speaker further accused the police authorities of failing to tell Nigerians the “true reflection” of their infamous actions at the National Assembly.
He reiterated his desire to honour any form of invitation extended to him by the police to explain his role during the commotion which rocked the National Assembly.
“Dear IG, you don’t need arrest order. Just send invitation to Room 001, 4th Floor, House of Representatives’ building, Abuja. We will gladly honour it,” the Speaker added.
However, the police have gone toe-to-toe with Tambuwal, describing the Speaker and the “motley crowd” of lawmakers who accompanied him to the National Assembly as “lawbreakers.”
The police accused the “lawbreakers” of taking laws into their hands and threatening the peace, by “battering and climbing” the gate of the National Assembly.
Writing on their official Facebook page, the police also alleged that the lawmakers, in the ensuing melee, shoved aside uniformed policemen drafted to the parliament with their cars, adding that public property were destroyed in the process.
The police posted two different videos to back up its claims against Tambuwal and his colleagues noting that the lawmakers used “ungentlemanly” words to address law enforcement officers deployed in the parliament to maintain law and order.
“Who are these lawbreakers battering and climbing the gate of the National Assembly? Why would anyone use a car to shove and push a uniformed policeman performing his lawful duty?
“Why would any group of people rough-handle a uniformed policeman performing his lawful duty and also refuse to submit to security screening into a government building?
“Why would any group of persons destroy government property paid for with tax payers’ money?” the police asked in a statement posted on Facebook.
Meanwhile, Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila, said his past experience in the hands of the police had forced him to join his other lawmakers to jump the gate of the National Assembly.
Gbajabiamila fended off critics of lawmakers who jumped the National Assembly gate, claiming that they resorted to doing so in order to “save our democracy.”
Stating that the incident would forever “live in infamy,” the principal member of the House accused the police of acting out a script from the Presidency.
“What happened at the National Assembly will forever live in infamy. I never thought I would see the day when I would be forced to go over the assembly gates where I work to gain access into the chambers.
“It was pretty clear that, in spite of a court injunction, the Presidency wanted to do something sinister and illegal. They perfected the plot to stop the Speaker and the opposition leader from gaining entry.
“My fellow members were already in chambers waiting for me to come in so as to provide leadership and direction. Most of our members had gone over the fate too.
“I had to do the needful to save our democracy. We thank God we foiled their evil machinations. We will continue to be vigilant,” Gbajabiamila wrote in a series of messages on his Twitter page.
Source: punchng...akacoms.com | Be Informed To Perform...
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