By Samuel Aruwan
Kaduna
Foremost lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, yesterday argued that there was imminent collapse of what he called ‘civil rule’ due to abuse of power by the federal government.
He said in a statement that recent happenings which included the barring of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, from accessing the National Assembly was one of the indicators.
He said: “Without any justification whatsoever, the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, and his colleagues were tear-gassed by the police and prevented from gaining access to the chambers of the National Assembly, last Thursday. In a bid to enter the chambers some of the legislators risked their lives by jumping the fence. In the process, they exposed themselves and the nation to undeserved ridicule.
“Although the majority of the members foiled the coup to remove the Speaker the triumph of democracy in the National Assembly may be short lived. Since the ruling party cannot secure the endorsement of the required two thirds majority to remove Speaker Tambuwal the House will be factionalised while the minority will be given official recognition and security protection under a new leadership.”
Continuing, he said: “In a reckless display of partisanship the police ensured that the Deputy Speaker of the House, and a few other legislators were not subjected to any form of harassment. Meanwhile, the Presidency and the Police have turned round to blame the Speaker and his colleagues for assaulting security operatives who were discharging their lawful duties at the National Assembly complex.”
“In the First and Second Republics, security forces and thugs were used in the manipulation of elections and the violations of the rights of the Nigerian people. Such naked abuse of power by the federal government paved away for military interventions and the civil war. In the third republic, the military dictators annulled a credible presidential election.
“The crisis that ensued terminated the expensive political transition program and facilitated the return of a full-fledged military dictatorship with dire consequences.”