How Obasanjo, Jonathan used police against sitting governors - Senate gives details
- The Nigerian Senate committee on police affairs accused Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan of using the police as a tool against opposition
- The Senate committee also detailed some of the alleged use of police against sitting governors
- The committee thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for restoring the security details of Governor Willie Obiano
The Senate committee on police affairs has reportedly alleged that two former presidents, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and Goodluck Jonathan, hounded sitting governors using the police.
The Senate accused the duo of using the police as their political tools against those they perceived as opponents while they ruled the country.
The Nation reports that the committee was mandated by the Senate to ensure the immediate compliance to its resolution on the reinstatement of the security details of Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra state.
Headed by Senator Abu Ibrahim, the committee commended President Muhammadu Buhari for ordering the immediate reinstatement of the governor’s security details even before the Senate resolution.
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Describing the withdrawal of Obiano’s security details as unfortunate, the committee added: “It is heartwarming that the police authorities have explained that the action was not intended to cause the governor any injury or harm.”
It reminded Nigerians that the perceived use of the police to persecute a sitting governor was actually made a best-practice tool by immediate past administrations.
The committee said: "In those days of impunity, the directives (to use the police to persecute political opponents) were directly linked to the Presidency and the then sitting presidents never issued any instructions to counter the positions of the police and security services.”
“Dr Chris Ngige as the then governor of Anambra state, suffered abduction and when he regained freedom and attempted to castigate the powers that be at the federal level, his security details were withdrawn on January 2nd 2005.
“In April 2007, a few days to the election, ’higher’ authorities ordered the withdrawal of the ADC and the C50 to Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The APC Leader was also threatened with arrest in the lead-up to the 2011 elections.
“In September 2013, then Governor Rotimi Amaechi in his capacity as the chairman of the Nigerian Governors ‘Forum, was harassed on several occasions with the threat of withdrawal of his security aides.
“While his were repeated threats, the president of this distinguished Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki, was not that lucky. His aides were actually withdrawn in September 2013 as punishment for his support of the rebellion within the then ruling PDP.
“In February 2014, the security details attached to the then governor of the Central Bank, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, were withdrawn on the orders of the Presidency. The same man suffered the same fate again when he became the Emir of Kano, in June 2014.
“The Emir’s palace was sealed off by the police to prevent him from entering it and he had to assume his responsibilities from within the confines of the Kano state Government House.
“It is also on record that, at the same time, security aides to then governor (now distinguished senator) Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso were withdrawn. All on ‘orders from above’.
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“Then Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state had his security details withdrawn in April 2014.
“In October 2014, the security details of the then speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, were withdrawn. This was after a blatant attempt was made to effect his impeachment.”
The issue concerning Obiano was laid to rest at the Senate since President Buhari had intervened.
Legit.ng earlier reported that a Federal High Court sitting in Jabi, Abuja, on Thursday, November 16, granted an interim order restraining the leadership of the Senate from investigating the Inspector-General of the Nigerian Police, Ibrahim Idris.
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Source: Legit.ng
