REPS SUMMON IGP OVER POLICE INTERFERENCE WITH G7 MEETING IN KANO LODGE 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.punchng/news/reps-summon-ig-over-rebel-govs-meetings-disruption/
Posted on: Wed, 06 Nov 2013 07:23:16 +0000
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