How Jonathan’s Plot To Ambush Tambuwal Backfires

In what amounts to a state-sponsored mayhem, the Nigeria Police yesterday attempted to stop the speaker of House of Representatives Aminu Tambuwal and other lawmakers from entering the National Assembly to preside over a special session on the extension of emergency rule in three north-eastern states, a development that forced the legislators to scale the gate to gain entrance into the complex.

However, the ‘no entry’ plan backfired, leaving in its wake pandemonium as lawmakers, staff and visitors to the National Assembly were forced to inhale tear gas fired into the National Assembly premises by policemen after it became apparent to them that they had failed to stop the speaker and other legislators from gaining access to their chamber.



At exactly 10:50 am, security operatives led by the commissioner of police in charge of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Wilson Inalegwu, shut the gates and blocked Tambuwal’s convoy from gaining access into the National Assembly premises.

A statement issued later by the Force public relations officer, Ag. CP Emmanuel Ojukwu, claimed that the police were acting on an ‘intelligence report’ of a likely invasion of the House of Representatives by hoodlums.

LEADERSHIP reports that the only people that accompanied the speaker were fellow legislators and his aides.

Curiously, at 10:21am, the deputy speaker, Hon Emeka Ihedioha, with his full official protocol and convoy, was allowed access into the National Assembly unhindered.

At a point, Tambuwal came down from his official car, formally introduced himself to security operatives manning the locked gates and demanded to see the commanding officer.

‘’Gentlemen, my names are Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and I am the speaker of the House of Representatives. 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 police officers at the gate remained mute after he asked the question and the FCT police boss was seen muttering something and walking away from the gate.

When the response did not come, Tambuwal stepped back about five yards and stood in the sun surrounded by fellow lawmakers and aides.

After a 30-minute wait, he was tipped that a small gate was half open and he subsequently marched swiftly alongside a few lawmakers and made his way in before the police could realise what he was about to do.

Tambuwal forced to walk into the chambers on foot

Rising from the shock, the police quickly moved to close the entrance, leaving other lawmakers stranded outside. Faced with no other option to get access to the chambers, the lawmakers adjusted their clothes and resorted to climbing over the high metal gate. The lawmakers included the minority leader Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos), his deputy Suleiman Abdulrahman Kawu (Kano), Bimbo Daramola (Ekiti), Samuel Adejare (Lagos) and a host of others.

Police Fire Tear gas Into Reps Chamber

But if the legislators thought they had beaten the police to their game and would now rest, they soon discovered they were wrong.

This time, the drama took a dangerous a turn as Tambuwal and other lawmakers approached the National Assembly lobby, popularly called ‘White House’. It connects both chambers of the National Assembly – the House and the Senate.

The police on sighting the speaker and his entourage fired three tear gas canisters at them. The security operatives also went into the lobby and fired more tear gas canisters into the lobby.

Amidst the commotion caused by the tear gas, Tambuwal’s aides rushed in and provided him with a handkerchief to cover his nostrils. But, unfortunately, two of his aides fainted after inhaling the noxious gas. Others scampered to safety as the speaker was shepherded into the chamber.

House minority leader, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, said: “What happened in the National Assembly today will forever live in infamy. I never thought I would see the day when I would be forced to climb over the assembly gates where I work, to gain access into the chambers.”

In the chamber, Senate president David Mark came in to intervene but his attempt was met with hostility from House members.

Hon. Aliyu Gebi (Bauchi/APC) made a threatening move towards the Senate president but he was quickly restrained. Another lawmaker, Abdulmalik Cheche (Niger/APC), grabbed the Senate president by the shoulder and shook him vigorously. Other lawmakers also booed and rained invectives on him, forcing him to leave the chamber.

Reps Decline Assent On Emergency Rule Extension

Ask Jonathan to exercise constitutional power to deploy troops.

Meanwhile, the House yesterday declined assent on the request by President Goodluck Jonathan for the extension of emergency rule for the fourth time in the north-eastern states of Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states.

After an executive session, the House, through its spokesman, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, told journalists at a briefing that the House concluded that there was no need for extension of emergency rule for the fourth time in a row since it had failed to produce the desired result of restoring peace in the troubled areas.

The House, however, advised the president to, instead, exercise his constitutional powers to deploy troops to any troubled part of the country whenever the need arises.

“Based on Hon Leo Ogor’s motion, we have not extended the emergency rule, rather we have asked the president to rely on the 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 the request for emergency rule started in May 2013; therefore, we have done three extensions. If we had extended today, that would have been the fourth in the series, and in anything you are doing, you should be able to take stock 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 is not giving us desired result, we should be able to change course. And the armed forces are to be empowered to deploy soldiers or members of the armed forces to any troubled point of this country, to take necessary action.

“So, all these are ancillary. That is, they are the fortress on which that motion was moved by Hon. Leo Ogor, at least for him to explore constitutional provisions rather than emergency rule,” Mohammed said.