The Inspector General of Police (IGP) Suleiman Abba, has said that he could not address Aminu Tambuwal, as the speaker of the House of Representatives, “because as far as I am concerned and the constitution of Nigeria, Aminu Tambuwal, is no longer the speaker of the House of Representatives of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
The IGP told our Correspondent in a telephone chat from Abuja on Thursday. According to him, “I have resolved to protect the constitution of this country. I have also pledged to defend our democracy and all the democratic principles, and that was what you saw during my appearance at the National Assembly on Wednesday.”
The Police boss who said, he revered and respected the lawmakers, as elected representatives of Nigerian people, but was however quick to point out that, he would refuse to be treated with disdain and his office called to question. “I must make them understand that nobody is above the constitution of this country. You cannot resolve to physically assault a law enforcement officer on duty, and expect the law to treat you sacred, no way, not while I remain the Inspector General of Police.”
IGP said members of the National Assembly should go and study the relevant section of the 1999 constitution about the appointment of a speaker and all that follow thereof, very well. “It is when they must have acquainted themselves with that section of the constitution, that we can talk. How would you describe someone who decided to scale the fence and to enter his own office, when there was gatemen to open the gate for him to enter.”
Members of the House Committee on Police Affairs were shocked on Wednesday, when the Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mr Suleiman Abba, told them that he would not address Aminu Tambuwal as the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
Chairman of the committee, Hon. Usman Kumo, PDP, Gombe quickly interjected, appealing to his members that the Inspector-General of Police has the floor and should be allowed to deliver his submission without interference.
Members openly complained, particularly Hon. Shuaibu Gwandu, PDP, Sokoto and Hon. Rufai Chachangi, APC, Kaduna, declaring that the IGP should retract what he said.
After about five minutes, the chairman successfully calmed frayed nerves.
Reading his submission further, Abba said: “My deep sympathy goes to those who sustained injuries in what happened on November 20 and let me say here that it hurts my own person as the events of that day traumatised me.
“What transpired on that day was unprecedented worldwide as policemen were disobeyed, beaten and many things that followed after that date. In the process of safeguarding the security of the National Assembly on November 20, we collaborated with the National Assembly Sergeant-at-Arms according to laid down procedures where members were being asked to identify themselves before they could be allowed into the premises.
The Police boss claimed he acted based on credible information to deploy his men to the NASS on the said day, adding that the action was also due to what happened on the 19th when Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and other APC supporters besieged the Force Headquarters promising to do worse things the following day, including going to the National Assembly.
