APC asks Jonathan to restore Tambuwal security details

The All Progressives Congress has called on President Goodluck
Jonathan to "show better understanding of democracy" by immediately
restoring the police security details the Inspector General of Police
withdrew from the Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives,
Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal.
In a statement in Abujaon Thursdayby its National Publicity Secretary,
Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party described the withdrawal of the
Speaker's security details by the IGP as "a usurpation of the role of
the Judiciary by the Inspector General of Police especially bearing in
mind that the question of the interpretation of Section 68(1)(g) of
the Constitution on which the Inspector General of Police anchored his
illegal act is currently before the courts for resolution."
The party said the position, including the manner a person becomes the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, was to be found in the
Constitution, arguing that "no constitutional provision or legislation
says membership of the ruling or dominant party in the House is a
pre-requisite."
The party added, "Furthermore, as the number four citizen of the
Federal Republic of Nigeria, the security details and apparatus
attached to the person of the Speaker are not based on his lineage,
person and or political leaning. It is on account of the position and
the protection required for that position and in Nigeria's best
interest.
"This unfortunate use and deployment of Nigeria's security forces in a
partisan and political way portends danger and further weakens
important institutions of governance and jeopardises national
security. Under President Jonathan, we now have a Police Force that is
monitoring and making conclusions with respect to party membership and
qualification of an otherwise elected official. This is unheard of in
any decent democracy.
"It is unfortunate that President Jonathan, who had been a successive
long term and unique beneficiary of our democracy and Constitution, is
now demonstrating the greatest disregard for the laws that govern and
guide us as a people. President Jonathan, who is the only individual
who benefited from the same Constitution to become a Governor from a
Deputy Governor without an election and from a Vice President to
President in similar legal circumstances, now desecrates the same
Constitution.
"The All Progressives Congress rejects this challenge to democracy and
modern society. We reject President Jonathan's illegality and call for
respect and compliance with the law. We reject this meddling in the
affairs of the Legislature, especially given the resolution of
President Jonathan and his close advisers yesterday at their meeting
to ask the Deputy Speaker Mr Emeka Ihedioha to unlawfully reconvene
the House before the adjourned date."