The National Assembly was last Thursday completely shut down by the Senate President, Senator David Mark, following intense chaos which visited the complex when armed security operatives attempted to stop the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Aminu Tambuwal from gaining entrance into the National Assembly. TABIOWO ISRAEAL takes another look at the incident.
The action of the Senate President saved the nation from what could have been a monumental embarrassment from crass lawlessness displayed by the security operatives and lawmakers of the All Progressive Congress in the House of Representatives.
The security operatives consisting of officers of the Police and Department of State Security (DSS), embarked on a thorough search of vehicles streaming into the National Assembly complex, one which led to the main gates being closed when the operatives spotted the Speaker alongside an entourage of All Progressive Congress lawmakers.
Apparently frustrated and angered by the decision of the security operatives to prevent the speaker from entering the premises of the National Assembly, the APC lawmakers in the speaker’s company took turns to scale the closed gate amidst an endless chant of solidarity songs.
The speaker, who before then had forced his way through the closed gate, marched undeterred through the over 200 meters distance towards the entrance of the National Assembly.The operatives midway through the walk, fired teargas severally ahead of the speaker who was immediately shielded by the lawmakers in his company, as the procession advanced towards the House of Reps chamber.
Upon reaching the entrance to the lobby leading to the House of Reps chamber, the irate lawmakers attacked some of the security operatives who attempted to deprive them entry. Once in, the House reconvened sitting presided by Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal.
An embarrassed Senator Mark, who immediately rushed out to the House of Representatives’ Chamber ostensibly to address the situation on hearing the development, was thoroughly tear gassed along with his colleagues while returning to his office after conferring with the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and his Deputy, Emeka Ihedioha.
All efforts by the Senate President to intervene and restore calm among members of the House of Representatives fell on deaf ears as he was rebuffed by irate lawmakers who demanded his exit from the chambers.
The Senate President in his bid to further prevail on the lawmakers was ruffled and attacked physically by one of them, Hon. Abdul Malik Usman Cheche (PDP Niger).
Senator Mark, who presided over yesterday’s plenary which held briefly due to the incident, after a brief meeting with principal officers of the National Assembly, said “After due consultation with my colleagues in the both chambers of National Assembly on this ugly development, we have therefore agreed that today’s session be suspended forthwith.”
He condemned the application of maximum force by the security operatives on lawmakers and civil servants who were in their respective offices to do their duties.
Accordingly, the Senate stepped down all legislative businesses billed on the day’s order paper and postponed the scheduled briefing by the service chiefs who were last week Wednesday summoned to appear before the upper chamber till Today, Tuesday 25, 2014.
The Senate also summoned the Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba to appear before the upper chamber during plenary next week Tuesday to explain the action of the Police force and its role which led to the breakdown of order, and disruption of legislative business in the National Assembly on Thursday.
The Senate President then ordered the immediate shut down of both chambers of the National Assembly.
Commenting on the incident, Senator Olushola Adeyeye ( APC Osun Central), said the ugly incident clearly shows that Nigeria is in serious mess driven by power mongering of the ruling party.
He said: “Going by what happened today, it is crystal clear that Nigeria is in a big mess and not just in crises. Infact , if not for the dexterity of people like the Senate President, David Mark, in managing the crises all along, the mess would have been bigger than this.
“Imagine security forces laying siege to the Parliament of Nigerians and throwing tear gasses here and there on their elected lawmakers because of power mongering altitude of some people and their party, PDP?
“This to me is a slap on Nigerians and I hope that they will pay PDP and its power mangers back in February next year during the forthcoming general elections”.
“PDP power monger, PDP power monger, how many people will they kill o, how many people will they kill o. Jonathan power monger, Jonathan power monger…”, he sang with annoyance.
On his path, Senator Abdullahi Adamu (APC Nasarawa West) described the attack by security operatives on lawmakers as barbaric, disgusting and a very bad omen for democracy in Nigeria.
“What has happened here today, partisan interest apart, is very bad and embarrassing not only to us the parliamentarians but to Nigerians generally.
“This is clear desecration of the symbol of democracy in the country and Infact, democracy itself. But let it be said very loudly to whoever is behind this shameful action that we the federal lawmakers will not bow to intimidation from any quarters and that both chambers shall be made by us to carry out thorough investigation of motive and those behind it”, he said.
But Senator Ehigie Uzamere (PDP Edo South) called for caution among lawmakers over the incident since according to him, the Senate had already invited the Inspector-General of Police, Sulaiman Abba to appear before it on Tuesday next week for explanations on what led to the Police action.
The Edo state lawmaker condemned his colleague, Senator Adeyeye for running down PDP and President Jonathan over the incident, describing his utterances as un-parliamentary.
Recall that the embattled Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, in an unexpected move on Tuesday, October 28, 2014 dumped the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressive Congress (APC) and thereafter adjourned the plenary session of the House till December 3, 2014.
The move, it was gathered, was systematically orchestrated to keep the members out of the chamber until after the primaries of the two major political parties, so as to foil impeachment plots by the Peoples’ Democratic Party to kick him out of office as speaker of the House of Representatives.
Attack on Mark
President of the Senate, Senator David Mark, last Friday provided insights into his visit to the Green Chamber of the House of Representatives in the heat of the pandemonium that occurred in the National Assembly on Thursday.
Against the backdrop of attacks on Senator Mark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state last week appealed to the President of the Senate to tamper justice with mercy and forgive Hon. Abdul Malik Usman Cheche (PDP Niger) who assaulted him on the floor of the House on Thursday.
In a statement from his office, Senator Mark explained that he was in the House “to ascertain the safety of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and his colleagues having received reports that canisters of tear gas were targeted at the Lawmakers.
“I also went to confer with Mr. Speaker on the need to suspend plenary in both Chambers in order to restore sanity to an environment that had turned restive and becoming uncontrollable.
“My intention was to safeguard the sanctity of the hallowed Chamber and to guarantee the respect of the legislature. I consider the unwarranted and needless attack on my person by Hon. Abdulmalik Usman Cheche as a prize and sacrifice for leadership. It is a sacrifice I am prepared to accept.
“I was physically stopped at the gate and booked from accessing the National Assembly complex for about an hour. I was also tear-gassed at the lobby of the White House as I made my return from the Green Chamber.
“In all these, I bear no ill feeling. AbdulMalik is my colleague. I have forgiven him. I believe we can continue to work together in the interest of peace and sustenance of democracy.
Senator Mark continued: “Like I have repeatedly said, I will do anything necessary to keep the sanctity of the parliament as an institution and safeguard the respect of every legislator.
“I therefore urge all political actors to always remember that we must first have a nation before we can achieve our various individual ambitions. We must at all times restrain ourselves from actions that cannot add value to our hard earned democracy.
“We should remain guided by the rules no matter how strongly we perceive our positions to be the most appropriate,” the Senate President urged.
