The Police High Command has defended the withdrawal of the security aides attached to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, referring to him as the former Speaker.
A high-ranking officer said that the force sought legal advice before taking the action as it has the statutory responsibility to uphold the spirit and letter of the constitution. He wondered why some elements prefer that the force make a selective enforcement of the law while at the same time canvassing a professional police for the country.
He argued that Section 68 (g) of the 1999 constitution (as amended) states: “Being a person whose election to the House was sponsored by a political party, he becomes a member of another political party before the expiration of the period for which that House was elected;
“Provided that his membership of the latter political party is not as a result of a division in the political party of which he was previously a member or of a merger of two or more political parties or factions by one of which he was previously sponsored.”
The officer observed that even members of the opposition hailed the performance of the Acting Inspector General Suleiman Abba concerning the immediate swearing-in of the acting Governor of Adamawa State, Mr. Bala James Ngilari recently, following a court ruling for Ahmadu Fintiri to vacate the office even when the latter has given indication that he was going to appeal the verdict, the senior officer wondered at the double standards of Nigerian opposition figures.
“People should not forget that the institution of Nigerian Police belongs to all Nigerians whether politician or not and therefore, its actions should be respected because it is working for the orderliness of the society no matter which party is in government.”
Insisting that the Police are not expected to wait for a breakdown of law and order before it nips issues in the bud, he continued, “
“We are not preventing the court from carrying out its responsibilities but we also have clear and specific responsibilities granted by the same constitution and whenever the court decides later, we also have an obligation to abide.
Calling for the cooperation and understanding of everyone, he said, “We take certain actions with best of intention for the general good of the nation.”