There are unconfirmed reports that the security details of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal may have been withdrawn, ostensibly on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan.
Tambuwal announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on the floors of the National Assembly on Tuesday, and vowed yesterday to join hands with other progressives in the APC to rout out the “PDP cabal ruling Nigeria.”
Although no official statement has been issued in that respect, our correspondent gathered that the decision to strip the number four man his security details may have been part of the decision reached at an emergency meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party leadership convened by President Goodluck on Wednesday.
The National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha; the Deputy Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor; and a member from Delta State, Ndudi Elumelu were in attendance.
Some PDP governors such as Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa): Ibrahim Dankwabo (Gombe) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu) were also part of the meeting.
Top government officials who attended the parley included the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim; the National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki; and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Muhammed Adoke (SAN).
One of those in attendance told one of our correspondents on the condition of anonymity that the meeting centered on how to make Tambuwal vacate his seat as speaker.
“The issue of the Speaker and his exit was one of the fundamental issues discussed at the meeting,” he said, though he did not disclose the decision reached at the meeting.
The presence of Adoke and Dasuki at the meeting suggested that they might have reviewed the legal and security implications of the options available to them with the two government officials.
The PDP had shortly after Tambuwal announced his defection called on him to do the needful by resigning as speaker.
The party, argued through its National Publicity Secretary, Olisa Metuh, that since Tambuwal became the speaker on the ticket of the “majority party (PDP), he had no right to continue to occupy the seat.
But the House said on Tuesday that the PDP and most of the commentators on the issue were “ignorant” of the provisions of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the House Standing Orders.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach the Speaker for confirmation proved abortive. His media aide Imam Imam pleaded with our correspondent to allow him reach out to the Speaker to ascertain the veracity or otherwise of the story.
However, about 45 minutes after when calls were put through all his mobile numbers, the phones were switched off.
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