President of the Senate, David Mark has ordered the immediate closure of the National Assembly.
Police and other security operatives today stopped the Speaker of the House of Representatives from gaining access into the premises of the assembly. Angered by the invasion of the police, some other legislators scaled the metal gate.
Security operatives shut teargas canisters at the legislators.
The intervention of the President of the Senate didn’t achieve much result. Senator Mark described the incident as barbaric while condemning the interference in legislative procedure by the state security machinery.
It may not be clear what the general mood of the members was but those who were more vocal, most of them members of the APC, vehemently condemned Police attempt to bar the Speaker from “performing his legitimate duties”.
While in the chamber, some members of the House of Representative were seen collecting signatures for possible impeachment motion against President Jonathan to begin.
The house was reconvened to discuss the request to extend the state of emergency in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe state which expires at midnight of Thursday, November 20.
The ongoing is not unconnected with the recent defection of Speaker Tambuwal from the PDP to the APC claiming a division in the PDP of his state, Sokoto.
Now the House of Representatives and the Senate will not be sitting until next week, the issue of national interest is that military operations in the troubled North East will become illegal by Friday morning. It is of great concern to many how the spate of insurgence in the region can be contained.
Most observers have regretted what they say is over politicization of national issues.
They argued that since Aminu Tambuwal did not honourably resign as canvassed by some, and realizing that the matter of his defection is before a court of competent jurisdiction, Security agencies should have allowed the law to take its course that resort to self help.
The bigger worry now is that except a compromise is reached, the ongoing may lead to anarchy in the country.
