NASS Invasion: Grave Assault on Democracy, Jonathan Must Go! By Segun Tomori

I had planned to write initially on the “macabre dance” in Ekiti where what is now synonymous with Jonathan’s Nigeria was re-enacted – 7 greater than 26! Seven lawmakers in their wisdom called the bluff of the constitution, repudiated the 2/3rds majority required to remove the Speaker and even without 1/3^rd needed to form a quorum for a sitting, impeached the Speaker! That was however a child’s play compared to what happened at the National Assembly last Thursday. A blockade of the parliament, uraguably unparalleled in our history was carried out not by external forces or “enemies of the state” but by Nigeria’s own security forces. A security cordon totally unwarranted was thrown around the assembly with no justifiable reason. Gates were locked to the consternation of lawmakers and the Speaker. The Police team and SSS operatives apparently acting on the now famous “orders from above” refused entreaties to allow the people’s representatives to go about their lawful duties.

It was obvious that the “Gestapo-styled” operation was targetted at one man, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal. Those that gave the orders had thought the security cordon will scare the daylight out of the Speaker and his colleagues but they were damn wrong! A people pushed to the wall by tyranny and height of impunity will fight back. Lo and behold, the obviously agitated reps mobilised to the scene from inside and outside the chambers, overpowered the security agents and smuggled the Speaker in. The rest outside the chambers, both pot-bellied, young and elderly took to gate scaling in defiance of fascism. The speaker and his triumphant colleagues surged towards the chambers but soon got what they didn’t bargain for. Several teargas cannisters were fired directly at the speaker and his entourage. That didn’t stop the courageous reps of the people from marching on amidst near suffocation and induced tears. Sensing the futility of their mission, the security agents soon fired a teargas into the lobby of the assembly chambers but that also did not stop the sitting of the determined reps, presided over by the Speaker.

One begins to wonder why the same President that sent an official correspondence to Tambuwal in his official capacity as Speaker to urgently consider the emergency rule extension amongst others will still order a blockade on him. The only explanation for that would be that Jonathan and his handlers under-estimated the will of Speaker and the reps to resist the abominable invasion. They had thought that ambushing him and preventing APC lawmakers from gaining entrance to the chambers will provide the leeway needed to carry out a “kangaroo” impeachment but as usual, they were worsted! The interesting aspect of the whole fracas was the overwhelming support Tambuwal got from even PDP lawmakers. The reps saw the invasion as an assault on democracy and a sacrilege on the parliament as the symbol of democracy and would have none of that. The plan fell like a pack of cards and like the Amaechi saga, the President instantly made the Speaker a hero!

Senators and Reps in their hundreds escorted the Speaker to his car at the end of the short plenary and he left in a motorcade of 70 cars that will make the President green with envy! They formed a human shield around the convoy and the Police looked on helplessly till they slipped out of sight! One begins to wonder why the security forces in the first place will interfere in a matter in which the courts ruled that the “status quo” be maintained, till the determination of the substantive suit. The attempt to stop the Speaker from performing his duties and the continued withdrawal of his security aides is in contempt of the courts. Morever elsewhere were other Speakers or Governors defected to the PDP, their security aides where not withdrawn nor they barred from performing their duties. A clear case of discriminatory justice! Ondo State is a vivid example.

When some PDP apologists claim the President was not aware of the invasion, I ask these pertinent questions. Under whose authority does the Inspector- General of Police operate? Who does he report to? Can the Nation’s No. 4 citizen be blockaded, harassed and teargassed without the express approval from Aso-rock? Jonathan based on precedence acts illegally, permits the perversion of the rule of law and stands aloof to claim innocence and allude to the independence of security agencies. Independence, my foot! The President like never before in our national history has turned Nigeria’s security services into an “appendage of Aso-Rock” and the enforcement arm of the ruling party. Every pretence to independence has vanished. A pointer to this fact is the protection 300 Policemen gave to the illegal sitting of 7 rebel lawmakers in Ekiti while the same Police couldn’t protect judges from being beaten and courts from being attacked by thugs.

The attack on the National Assembly is not an attack on Tambuwal, make no mistake about that. It is a declaration of WAR on the Nigerian people. Members of parliament represent the people, an attack on them is an attack on us all irrespective of party affliations. No where in the world will such an attack be condoned and swept under the carpet. Somebody must take responsibility and that person is none other than President Jonathan. We have been glossing over series of gross misconduct by the President based on sentiments of stabilising our democracy but this assault on our sovereignty must not go unpunished. We must pass a strong message that sovereignity belongs to the people, it does rest in the pouch of the “despot of Aso-rock” . One man’s penchant for constitutional infringement and blatant disregard for the rule of law must not be allowed to derail democracy. Events of lesser proportion than this are what led to military intervention in the First Republic, we must not allow history to repeat itself.

I urge the house of reps members to remain steadfast in their move to impeach the President. They must not waver or succumb to intimidation in the larger interests of our country. Even if it doesn’t scale through eventually, Jonathan must be made to come down his high horse. He should be effectively shaken and made to accept responsibilities for his actions, show remorse or be booted out. Heavens will not fall! It was because of situations like this that framers of the constitution installed the impeachment clause in the constitution. Firm action will strengthen our democracy and serve as a deterrent to others. We must collectively stand to stop this reign of impunity in our land lest our country turns into a “banana republic”.

Segun Tomori

Political Analyst

Twitter: @seguntomori, email: tjsegxx@gmail.com

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