A large number of State Security Service and police personnel took over the National Assembly today. The security men prevented the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Tambuwal from entering the complex. However, the Speakers’ loyalists managed to smuggle him into the chamber after a protracted scuffle.
We are greatly disappointed by this ugly development. It is shameful, ridiculous and laughable. We are shocked that the Nigerian Police and the SSS can treat the nation’s lawmakers like ordinary students or unionists. It is a most disgraceful conduct.
Whoever gave the orders for the desecration of the office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives is not fit to rule a local government, talk less of a country. In the same vein, whoever gave the orders for police invasion of the National Assembly and the subsequent blockade of the people’s representatives is not fit to wear the uniform of any of the security agencies in Nigeria. It is the mother of all sacriledge.
How on earth can the Nigeria Police fire teargas at lawmakers whom they are expected to protect? Why should lawmakers have to scale the fence of the National Assembly to access the chamber?
What happened to the principle of separation of powers? It is high time President Jonathan realized that respect begets respect. Mr. President will attract greater respect and a robust goodwill if he respects other institutions in the system. It is a great disappointment to see the president desecrating the same institution he swore to defend. Actions like the invasion of the National Assembly and attempting to disable a sitting Speaker is bound to attract resentment for Aso Rock.
Is it really worth all this hullabaloo? Must Nigeria be thrown into chaos just because Aso Rock wants to disenfranchise the whole North East via a pretentious emergency rule? . The Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC) wishes to remind President Jonathan that historians are taking notes. Mr. President must therefore decide how he wishes to be remembered: as the president who sustained democracy through justice and equity or as one who destroyed it through acts of impunity.
MURIC rejects the excuse given by the Nigerian Police that it acted based on intelligence report that thugs were about to disrupt proceedings at the National Assembly. Does the Speaker look like a thug? Can any policeman worth his uniform fail to recognize him? The police should save their story for the marines.
This invasion is sacriledge. It is the beginning of the end of law and order.
Professor Ishaq Akintola, Director, Muslim Rights Concern (MURIC)
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