Invasion Of National Assembly: My Experience [Plus Photos] – Temi Macaulay

Today Nigeria received the greatest blow to her democracy in the past decade. When I got to the National Assembly this morning, I saw an unprecedented amount of security at the gate with masked guards holding their guns at the ready. I began to suspect that the security might attempt to prevent the Speaker from entering the Assembly but I was doubtful because I knew the implications of that happening. Later in the morning tear gas was fired inside the National Assembly and large numbers of people began to run out of the building to escape the fumes, including Honourable Members of the House. In the midst of all the commotion a man came out of the building assisted by people visibly weakened by the gas. He began wheezing and was taken to an ambulance parked at the building entrance. It was said to be Hon. Kawu, although I was not able to personally identify him.

Before then the Speaker was barred from passing the Assembly gate and I saw a picture of him on the mobile phone of a journalist, holding onto the shut gate of the National Assembly with armed men behind it. It was rumoured he climbed over the gate though I didn’t see it myself. He was presumably in the Chambers holding a Session/Meeting with the Honourable Members in the Chamber filled with tear gas. I strolled around the building, thinking about Nigeria’s future and the possible repercussions of Jonathan’s high-handedness and in an hour or so I heard the shout, “Mr. Speaker!” I went to the entrance of the Chambers and joined the many people who cheered the Speaker on shouting ‘APC’. Then again, tear gas was fired.

I ran outside immediately without a second thought, thinking of my safety first, but as I breathed in fresh air free from the nauseating fumes, my feeling of triumph in escaping turned to shame. I boldly went back inside and experienced for the first time today what soldiers must feel when they knowingly put themselves in harm’s way, risking their lives. Thankfully nothing happened but there was every chance something could have gone wrong with the numerous armed security personnel. By now the Speaker was gone but the long line of people following him was still in sight, so I ran to catch up with them. I was only able to reach the Hon. Speaker again when he got to the Senate Presidents office. It appeared he wanted to have a meeting with the Senate President over what happened to him earlier on.

Below is the picture I took of the Speaker outside the office of the Senate President.

Temi Macaulay is an intern at Office of Minority Leader, House of Representatives.

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