Police IG meets Reps, insists Tambuwal is no longer Speaker, addresses him as 'one Alhaji Tambuwal and pledges policing 'now include the support of the development of democracy,”

The Inspector General of Police, Suleiman Abba, declared that the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, no longer occupies his seat after defecting from the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to All Progressives Congress, APC.

The police boss said this on Wednesday as he appeared before the House committee investigating to explain the invasion of the National Assembly by police last Thursday, which led to chaos as some lawmakers scaled the fence to gain entrance.

At the meeting,  the IG referred to the speaker as “one Alhaji Tambuwal” that led a band of “thugs” to invade the National Assembly and assault police officers on duty. The police officers he claimed were “physically beaten, disobeyed and many other things”.

He told the lawmakers his decision to order a siege on the assembly was in support of democracy.

“From the day I was appointed acting Inspector General of Police, in my maiden speech I made a pledge that policing all over the world has gone beyond the issue of arresting suspected criminals, investigating and prosecuting offenders. Policing worldwide and Nigeria inclusive, which I pledge to be part of, now include the support of the development of democracy,” he said.

Mr. Abba continued: “I want to state that that pledge was not just for the words, I meant it. Since then all my effort has been in that direction in addition to other responsibility on my shoulder.

“2015 elections are around the corner and political activities and politicking has heightened. As a result of that, I discussed with my colleagues and told them that we should make all efforts to make our election credible and peaceful. In the last meeting we had in two weeks ago, I told them to be focused on efforts that will enable the police control the activities of political thugs and to mop up arms.

“I told them to do everything within the limit of the provision of the law to ensure that people do not take laws into their hands, so that we can have credible and safe conduct of the 2015 elections.”When confronted by lawmakers, Mr. Abba said he would not comment further on the case since it is before a court.

However, the hearing was adjourned abruptly as Mr. Abba stood his ground.

source: premium times