The embattled Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has declared that he was ready for arrest, just as his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) warned yesterday that the alleged plot to arrest him could truncate democracy in Nigeria.

Tambuwal, in a statement signed by his media aide, Imam Imam, yesterday, promised that the Speaker would honour any invitation by the Police, but warned that the law enforcement agents should endeavour to play a neutral role in the unveiling political chess game.

The statement reads in part: “The attention of the Hon Speaker, House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR, has been drawn to publications in the media to the effect that the Inspector General of Police has ordered that he, the Speaker, be invited to the Force Headquarters, and that he be arrested if he resisted.

“Accordingly, the Hon. Speaker states, for the records, that he is available, ready and willing to answer any lawful invitation from any of the security agencies on any matter for which they may require his attention.

“The Speaker expresses dismay at the unprofessional conduct of the Nigeria Police in the attempt to stop him from accessing the House of Representatives chambers on the 20th November 2014 to preside over the Special Session of the House on the State of Emergency Extension requested by Mr. President, for which he had recalled members from their working recess.

“Most disgraceful is the false statement, later issued by the Police, in which they claimed that, in the lawful exercise of their duties, 'Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, CFR, arrived the venue with a motley crowd, which broke the cordon, assaulted the Police and evaded due process.' This blatant falsehood, coming from a law enforcement agency, that is expected to be neutral and lawful, is unfortunate, to say the least.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the Hon. Speaker came to the National Assembly, accompanied by Honourable Members, as is customary during any sitting of the House. They all came with their official vehicles, but were disallowed from driving into the premises. Certainly, Hon. Members, who arrived the precinct of the National Assembly in response to a call to perform an urgent, critical national assignment, cannot be described by any self-respecting institution as “a motley crowd.”

•Adapted from Newswatch Times. Photo shows Speaker Tambuwal.

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