Reps summon IG over rebel govs meeting’s disruption There was a mild row in the House of Representatives on Tuesday as a motion on the right of the seven rebel governors of the Peoples Democratic Party to hold meetings split the ranks of lawmakers. While the PDP lawmakers in the camp of the G-7 governors and their supporters in the All Progressives Congress of Nigeria wanted the motion to pass, those in the mainstream PDP vehemently opposed it. The motion was later passed and the lawmakers consequently decided to summon the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to ascertain the circumstances leading to the disruption of Sunday’s meeting by the rebel governors at the Kano Governor’s Lodge by policemen from the Asokoro Command in Abuja. A member of the House from Niger State, Mr. Idris Kutigi, who sponsored the motion, had argued that it amounted to “impunity” for the police to “storm” the lodge and disrupt the meeting on Sunday. He therefore urged his colleagues to “condemn” the action of the police, stating that the G-7 governors and some members of the National Assembly were meeting to find solutions to the crisis in the PDP when the policemen stormed the venue. The lawmaker also stated that the police interfered with the immunity conferred on the governors by the 1999 Constitution (as amended). Kutigi added, “The Police authorities have in recent times disrupted several meetings of these governors by ceiling the meeting venues. “We are concerned that a police officer of the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police boldly attempted to arrest and disrupt the meeting of the G-7 governors in disregard to their constitutional immunity in section 308 of the 1999 constitution. “We are alarmed at the way and manner the Nigeria Police treats elected representatives of Nigerians. This amounts to a total disregard of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “We note that if the rights and privileges of these governors and members of the National Assembly can be so threatened, then an ordinary man in Nigeria has no hope and confidence in the Nigerian Police Force.” But, there was protest from the main PDP lawmakers as Kutigi ended his argument. They tried to throw out the motion when the presiding Deputy Speaker, Mr. Emeka Ihedioha, put it to vote. They kicked against the motion by shouting a loud “nay”. Their opponents also shouted a louder “ayes” in support of the motion. In the ensuing confusion, Ihedioha called the vote twice before he ruled in favour of the motion. In Choba, Rivers State, youths supporting one of the rebel governors, Rotimi Amaechi, almost clashed with policemen who attempted to prevent them from entering the Port Harcourt International Airport. The youths had assembled close to the airport to welcome a former Head of State, Maj.-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari; the APC National Leader, Alhaji Bola Tinubu; and other top members of the party, who were arriving the state for a rally. It was gathered that Amaechi, on hearing of the development, moved to the main entrance of the airport where policemen had blocked the main gate, preventing the youths from entering. The youths, who were already spoiling for war at about 9am, stood at the gate and refused to move back as directed by the policemen. The policemen, according to sources, were hesitant in opening the gate, until some of the youths forced it open in anger. While about 20 per cent of them managed to follow the governor, others were not allowed in. The governor trekked about five kilometres from the main entrance of the airport to the VIP lounge with those that followed him. The leader of the police team, Ache Joseph, expressed dissatisfaction over the development and expressed fear that the youths could cause trouble. An angry Amaechi said the police were portraying themselves as the military wing of the PDP. He recalled that the Supervising Minister of Education, Nyesom Wike, once mobilised some youths to boo him at the same airport when he was there to welcome President Goodluck Jonathan. Amaechi said since the police allowed the minister’s supporters to enter the airport, they (police) should have also permitted his own supporters to gain entrance to the airport. He said, “I flew in (from Lagos) and wanted to go and change to receive my visitors. I got to the gate and I was told that the policemen did not allow my supporters into the airport. “I said an ordinary minister of state, who was my chief of staff, would gather people at Eleme with police protection while a former Head of State is arriving with some governors, but police will not allow the people in, what type of country is that? “Somebody said the police had become the military wing of the PDP. That is not the only truth. The other truth is that we are running a military government. I lead the people. I had to march them into the airport. That’s how we got here (VIP lounge). I trekked from the gate to this place (VIP lounge).” Amaechi added that the police should be held responsible if there was any breakdown of law and order. The Pro-Amaechi youths in the airport, who had also queried why they should be barred from entering the airport, chanted, “No Amaechi, No 2015 elections; No Amaechi, No Rivers State; No Amaechi, No Nigeria.” One of the youths, who identified himself as Gift Uzor, said they were ready to confront the policemen if the governor had not come to ensure that the gate was opened for them to enter the airport.
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 04:59:13 +0000
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