Following the brawl that broke out on Thursday at the National Assembly when an attempt was made to prevent the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, from entering the legislative chambers, the All Progressives Congress (APC), former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar and former head of state, Gen. Mohammedu Buhari have reacted to the crisis rocking the nation’s National Assembly.
The party and its Presidential aspirants condemned what they termed the ‘unbridled’ show of lawlessness displayed in the National Assembly by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led Federal Government under the leadership of President Goodluck Jonathan, ThisDay reports.
Speaking on Thursday while inaugurating an eight-member presidential screening committee headed by Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu, APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun expressed fear that the country may fall apart.
“As we sit here, a crisis is brewing in the nation’s National Assembly. The police have virtually taken over the place and tear gas is being used within the chambers of the assembly. This is a further indication of the unbridled and total lawlessness, which is gradually taking over our nation. It is clear that the nation is falling apart before our own very eyes,” he said.
Oyegun assured that everything the APC would do henceforth, will be in contradiction of “what the PDP is inflicting on the nation today”.
Speaking also on the issue former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in a statement from his media office said the “siege mentality” of the Jonathan-led administration poses a grave threat to Nigeria’s democracy.
He condemned the unpolished methods the Jonathan-led administration is using to harass and humiliate perceived political enemies. He said the crude display of power by the president and his agents portends ominous signs for the future of our democracy, “which is not a surprise as President Jonathan did not participate in the costly struggle that brought our present democracy into being”.
“Obviously, the emergency rule has failed to stem the unrest. The federal government must work with, rather than against those who understand and have been elected by the people to govern,” Atiku said.
According to him, the action of the PDP-led government towards Tambuwal was not decent and acceptable under a president that has committed himself to upholding the rule of law.
“This crisis highlights the absolute failure of the current PDP’s idea of government: arrogant, indifferent and incompetent,” Atiku said.
He also asserted that the abuse of power by using state agents to harass, intimidate and humiliate perceived opponents by the president was not only capable of heating the polity to a frightening scale, but also carried the risk of polarising and politicising security operatives in the country.
The former vice-president called on the President to remember that he was elected to uphold the constitution of the country, and not to use power arbitrarily against political opponents. He also advised the president to practise what he preaches by not heating up the polity, an accusation which he (Jonathan) always directs at opposition politicians.
“What is happening at the National Assembly, taken together with what unfolded today (Thursday) at the Ekiti House of Assembly, is totally strange. It is not the democracy we fought for; for which many of our compatriots paid for with their lives. These free-riders should not be allowed to destroy what others built with their sweat and blood. It is not too late, however, for President Jonathan to pull the plug on these assaults to our democracy because it is inconceivable that the show of shame at the National Assembly is what he wanted have as a birthday present,” Atiku said.
Buhari on his part expressed concern over the alleged lockout in the National Assembly by the police, warning of the imminent danger inherent in politicising the security forces.
“If it is true that the speaker was shot at or tear gassed, then those who are supposed to protect the constitution are subverting it. God help us,” Buhari said.
Meanwhile, the APC also accused the president of sabotaging his own administration’s war against Boko Haram on the altar of personal vindictiveness and political desperation, an action the party described as “unbecoming of any self-respecting national leader.”
It would be recalled that Senate President, David Mark, on Thursday condemned the police for using teargas on lawmakers and members of the House of Representatives, describing the action as “barbaric,”
No comments:
Post a Comment