Presidency reacts to National Assembly show down: Backs Police IG

The Presidency has backed the action of the the Inspector General of Police Suleiman Abba for ordering heavily armed policemen to prevent Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and other lawmakers  from gaining access to the House today.

The Speaker stormed the Assembly complex with fellow lawmakers when he was stopped..Some lawmakers resorted to scaling the fence to gain entry..Reacting to the development, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe addressed journalists today and said....

 “Assumption (on whether the police boss was acting on instruction from the President) should stop. The IGP is a very senior officer of the government and his duties are to enforce the law.He doesn’t need to get the villa to enforce the law. He is not a house boy. Though he works under the government but he is expected to defend the law. IGP has the duty to enforce the law. He acted in the discharge of his duty. The IGP didn’t invade the assembly. It is wrong to assume that.”

” The whole scenario at the National Assembly today as we witnessed is rather unfortunate. We wish that at all times; national interest should supersede all other interests including personal and political interests.
“From Government perspective, the overriding concern today is the issue of insurgency which necessitated the request by Mr President that the National Assembly considers an extension of the State of Emergency to give the Security forces the needed legal framework and space for a successful prosecution of the war against Boko Haram terrorists.
“It is our hope that the Honorable members of the House of Representatives will use the period of adjournment to resolve all matters so that they can resume to deliberate and act on issues of National importance.”