Police fire teargas at Tambuwal, lawmakers ahead of key vote

Nigerian police fired teargas inside the parliament
complex on Thursday, apparently trying to block
opposition lawmakers, including the speaker of the
lower house, from entering the building for a key
security vote.
Members of the House of Representatives had been
scheduled to vote on a government request to extend
emergency rule in the northeast region hit hardest by
Boko Haram militants.
The opposition has said it was against the move, and
political tensions have been ratcheted up ahead of
elections scheduled for February.
Senate President David Mark, a ruling party stalwart,
ordered the immediate closure of both chambers
over the incident.
The focus of the police aggression appeared to be
lower house speaker Aminu Tambuwal, whose
defection to the opposition last month outraged the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
The PDP has tried to remove Tambuwal from the
speaker’s chair and stripped him of his security
detail.
– Lawmakers scale fence –
Tambuwal arrived at parliament at about 10:00 am
(0900 GMT) before the vote on the state of
emergency extension, his spokesman Imam Imam
told AFP.
President Goodluck Jonathan has said the extension
is needed to sustain the military offensive against
Boko Haram.
Lawmakers at the National Assembly Thursday.
But the main opposition All Progressives Congress
(APC) has described the strategy as a complete
failure, noting the huge Islamist gains since
emergency rule was first imposed in May 2013.
Imam said Tambuwal was moving in a convoy with
more than 40 other lawmakers, which police
repeatedly tried to stop as they approached the main
gate of parliament.
The convoy pressed through several police
barricades before officers locked the gate that leads
into the parliament complex, he added.
Lawmakers began pushing aggressively on the bars
to force their way through, with police looking on
from the other side, footage on the private Channels
television station showed.
Several scaled the gate and then walked with
Tambuwal towards the legislative building, the
footage showed.
“As soon as we got (to parliament), they insisted he
will not enter the chamber,” Imam told AFP.
“It was in that midst of confusion that they now used
the tear gas on the speaker” and other lawmakers, he
added.
An AFP correspondent said the main lobby outside
the lower house chamber was filled with tear gas,
with bystanders choking as they tried to find their
way outside.
– Parliament suspended –
Senate president Mark described the chaos as “a very
unfortunate incident” and closed both chambers of
the National Assembly until Tuesday, meaning
Jonathan’s emergency rule extension will not be
approved this week.
Police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu told AFP that
police officers were not involved in the incident but
that claim was not consistent with witness reports
and video footage.
The PDP, which has controlled the government since
democracy was restored in 1999, has found itself in
uncharted waters in recent months following a wave
of lawmaker defections to the APC.
While the PDP currently holds fragile majorities in
both chambers, the situation has been in flux
throughout the year.
The defection of Tambuwal was seen as blow to
Jonathan, who had previously relied on a compliant
lower house.
The speaker had been mulling a possible bid for the
presidency on the APC ticket at next year’s elections
but declined earlier this week.
Human rights lawyer Jiti Ogunye said Thursday’s
fracas recalled the years after Nigeria’s
independence from Britain in 1960, when a divided
civilian government was ultimately overthrown by the
military.
“We are in a state of anarchy,” he said. “This is how
sad our democracy has turned.

Why we blocked Tambuwal from entering NASS —Police

The Nigeria Police Force has said the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, was blocked from entering the National Assembly , Thursday, so as to forestall the breakdown of law and order based on an intelligence report of the invasion of the National Assembly by hoodlums. In a statement by CP Emmanule Ojukwu, Force Public Relations Officer, Force Headquarters, the Police said it promptly deployed its personnel to the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Heavily armed security operatives, Thursday, prevented the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal from gaining access to the House to preside over the deliberation on the extension of emergency rule in the North-East. The Police fired tear gas at the Speaker and other lawmakers in the process. The statement: “Following an intelligence report of a likely invasion of the House of Representatives by hoodlums and thugs, the Nigeria Police Force promptly deployed its personnel to the premises to prevent a breakdown of law and order. Consequently, the Police condoned the area and began screening of all members and visitors alike. In the course of this lawful exercise, Alh. Aminu Tambuwal CFR, arrived the venue with a motley crowd, who broke the cordon, assaulted the Police and evaded due process and the Police had the duty to restore order and normalcy, using lawful means. The IGP seizes this medium to warn all political actors and their followers to respect constituted authority and due process and to desist from the use of thugs to pursue their agenda. The Nigeria Police shall continually apply all lawful means to prevent a breakdown of law and order in all segments of the society and shall apply the full weight of the law on any political actor who violates the peace and security of the nation. Ag. CP EMMANUEL C. S. OJUKWU FORCE PUBLIC RELATIO

AFCON 2015: Eagles soar higher in Congo

Nigeria’s Super Eagles did what was expected of them in the Africa Cup of Nations qualification tie in Pointe Noire as they beat the Red Devils of Congo 2-0 to put one leg in the 2015 tournament now to be hosted by Equatorial Guinea. The second half of the charged encounter produced all the drama, with Vincent Enyeama saving a penalty to keep the Eagles in the game, while returnee Uche Ikechukwu and Aaron Samuel made it count when it mattered most for Nigeria. The Eagles now need to win against already qualified South Africa Wednesday at the Nest of Champions in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State. The Congolese came out strong hoping to deliver an early low blow to the Eagles. Thierry Bifouma tested Enyeama, but the Lille of France shot-stopper was not in the mood to concede any goal. On the other hand Uche also made his presence felt, his delicate chip was saved by Massa Chancel in goal for Congo. Emanuel Emenike took his turn to ask questions of the Congolese defence; Chancel was on hand to thwart the move. From then on both sides battled to control the midfield and it was John Obi Mikel that dictated the pace. Keshi introduced Sone Aluko and that ignited some urgency in the Eagles attack. In the 58th minute Mikel put Emenike through on goal, but he was brought down in the box by the Congolese keeper. Uche did not make any mistake from the spot when he was called to duty. Shortly afterwards Congo got a penalty of their own, but Enyeama denied Bifouma and that signaled the beginning of the end for the Red Devils. China-based Aaron Samuel seized the day for the Eagles in the 85th minute after he connected well to a pass from Gbolahon Salami and fired to the top left corner. And there was mayhem at the Ominisports Stadium as the fans resorted to throwing missiles into the pitch. The game was temporarily stopped by the referee. However, by the time the game resumed the hosts had already resigned to fate - See more at: http://www.vanguardngr.com/2014/11/afcon-2015-eagles-soar-congo/#sthash.PN4d5g9r.dpuf

Why I showed my boobs instead of bra at Halloween — Cossy Orjiakor

Controversial actress cum singer, Cossy Orjiakor, who seems to derive pleasure from flaunting her God-given gifts in the open, is at it again. This time, she is in the news as a result of her daring presence in the just concluded Halloween held in Lagos recently. Cossy Cossy The sexy actress, who went to the event bra less, told Matinee why she chose not to wear bra to the event. Hear her, “Actually, a friend of mine and her husband invited me to the event and I decided to go with one of my craziest costumes which I have not worn for a long time. The top has a very tiny hock in the chest and if I should wear bra, my bra will be exposed. So, I decided to show my boobs instead of my bra. I think people would prefer to see the boobs instead of bra. You, which one will you prefer to see?” she asked our reporter. “The funny thing is that, the very first time I stepped out bra less, I got pips freaking out. Everybody wanted to have pictures with me. Then I got bitten by the Egyptian vampire, these boobs are simply amazing, bra less in Halloween” she added.

Bomb explosion, sporadic gun shots in Kano

KANO – An explosion and sporadic gunshot rocks Kano Friday evening amidst fear of dozen of casualties. Eyewitness says the incident occured behind a fuel station opposite NNPC mega station in Hotoro triggered heavy gun duel . Both military and police authorities are keeping sealed lips over the development as entities to the spoke persons yielded no results