Over 120 lawmakers have so far appended their signatures on a document seeking for the impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan.
While reacting to inquiries on the impeachment move, Mohammed Zakari, chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, said “the notice of impeachment was not on the order paper today (yesterday) but I’m not foreclosing that some other things took place.”
Leo Ogor, deputy House Leader, who urged members to jettison the impeachment plan, argued that the notice of impeachment was inconsequential, as the President had no hand in what transpired at the National Assembly.
“The President is unaware, so bringing it (impeachment) up is going to be defeated. The President has done no wrong, impeachment should not even be part of the issue,” he pleaded.
Earlier in the day, dozens of policemen had prevented House of Representatives Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, from entering parliament by firing tear gas at lawmakers before a vote on extending emergency rule in three states, an opposition lawmaker said.
READ ALSO: Edo Assembly commutes Speaker’s impeachment to resignation
“We were all prevented from entering the house, but eventually we made it in after several canisters of teargas were hauled at us,” Dakuku Peterside, a member of the main opposition All Progressive Congress party, said in an interview at the National Assembly in Abuja. “We entered the chambers and our speaker Aminu Tambuwal presided.”
Meanwhile, similar agitation by aggrieved lawmakers to move for impeachment of Emeka Ihedioha, deputy Speaker, during the brief closed door session, was doused by the Speaker, who called for calm.
Trouble started at about 10:530am when the Speaker arrived at the National Assembly complex in company of members of the APC Caucus.
Some of the lawmakers who accompanied the Speaker include Suleiman Kawu, deputy Minority Leader, Solomon Adeola, Mohammed Zakari, Samuel Adejare and Biodun Akinlade.
Tambuwal had come at odds withe ruling PDP after he deamped from the party to join the opposition APC.
Members of the APC caucus who wrestled the main gate of the National Assembly complex with armed policemen, chanted “we are ready to die, kill us”.
Tambuwal who alighted from his vehicle, demanded to speak with the leader of the police team.
“Gentlemen, my names are Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and I am the Speaker of this House. 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 the commanding officer is here.
“Can you identify me as the Speaker of this House?” he asked.
The policemen who were bent on carrying out their orders, remained mute as the Speaker made enquiries.
Following this, Wilson Inalegwu, FCT Commissioner of Police, who led the Police team, after conversing with someone on phone for about five minutes, asked his subordinates to allow the Speaker enter.
Some of the lawmakers including Zakari Mohammed, forced their way in and shielded the Speaker.
However, other lawmakers who accompanied the Speaker were locked out and resorted to climbing the gate amidst applauds from National Assembly workers and heavily armed policemen who mounted barricades at the gate.
Senate President David Mark and several Senators were also prevented from gaining entrance into the complex.
All the gates leading to the National Assembly were shut to prevent the lawmakers from sitting.
Over 100 newly deployed security operatives from the Department of Security Service (DSS) and Nigeria Police took over the security checks at the National Assembly.
The situation led to gridlock on the adjoining road, as the security operatives conducted thorough checks on incoming vehicles.
Some of the policemen mounting barricades at the entrance of the chambers, let off tear-gas canisters at lawmakers in company with the Speaker at the chamber’s lobby.
Worried by the rising tensions, Senate President David Mark, who was held hostage for over 30 minutes at the entrance to the National Assembly, directed that the Assembly adjourn till Tuesday next week.
A police officer who led the security team at the Secretariat junction, told a Supreme Court Judge who was trapped in the long queue, that the National Security Adviser “is aware of why we are here”.
During the closed door meeting, the lawmakers were said to have condemned the treatment meted against the Speaker and members of the House of Representatives as well as Senators who were locked out of the National Assembly complex by the newly deployed joint security operatives.
A lawmaker, Zakari Mohammed, who spoke at a press briefing, however warned the sponsors of the “illegality” whom he described as “enemies of democracy” to desist from any act capable of truncating democracy, stressing that “we are not cowards. They should know that the National Assembly is not a State Assembly where illegalities are perpetuated”.
Leo Ogor, deputy House Speaker, who spoke in a separate interview, condemned the action of the security operatives, just as he apologised to Nigerians and the Senate President who was harassed by some aggrieved members of the ruling party.
When asked whether he had fore-knowledge of the incident, Ogor denied knowledge of the ambush laid against the Speaker and observed that the atmosphere was not conducive for legislative activities.
While considering the Emergency Rule as requested by the Presidency, the House unanimously held that the President should rely on the relevant sections of the Armed Forces Act which empowered the President to deploy Armed Forces to the troubled states.
Mohammed Zakari, who gave an update on the closed door session held by members, said “we have not extended the emergency rule, rather we have asked the President to rely on Section 8 of the Armed Forces Act, which empowers him to deploy the military to troubled spots of the country.
“We relied on that, bearing in mind that if we had approved this today, it would have been the fourth in the series. You remember that the emergency rule started in May, 2013 and therefore we have done three extensions.
“If we had extended today, that would have been fourth in the series and anything you are doing, you should be able to take stock to be able to see whether or not that action you are taking is yielding results. We would be doing more good if Mr President relies on that more, because if we are adopting a particular stand and it is not giving us the desired result, we should be able to change course.
“And the Armed Forces are to be empowered to delpoy soldiers or members of the Armed Forces to any troubled point of this country for them to take necessary action. So, I think that is what came out from the executive session we had where this issue was looked at closely. Of course, these conclusions were reached.”
After the closed door session the House resolved to adjourned till 3rd December.
KEHINDE AKINTOLA
