Illegal Barricade Of NASS Complex A National Embarrassment –Group

Posted by African Examiner Latest Headlines, News Friday, November 21st, 2014

FROM IGNATIUS OKPARA, Enugu

Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has joined other several groups to condemn what it described as the “illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful barricade of National Assembly Complex, especially the House of Representative Chamber with armed security forces, preventing Speakers of the House entrance.

A statement by its executive Director Auwal Ibrahim Musa (Rafsanjani), made available to African Examiner Correspondent in Enugu, said the civil society group has “noticed in recent times, persistent violation of human rights, forceful oppression and all forms of intimidation through illegal, unlawful and unpatriotic use of security forces by the present administration against members of the opposition parties.”

According to the statement titled: CISLAC Condemns Persistent Disregard For National Legislative Chamber, further said in full: ”Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC) has noticed in recent times, persistent violation of human rights, forceful oppression and all forms of intimidation through illegal, unlawful and unpatriotic use of security forces by the present administration against members of the opposition parties.

It is on this background, that CISLAC strongly condemns illegal, unconstitutional and unlawful barricade of National Assembly Complex, especially the House of Representative Chamber with armed security forces, preventing the Speakers of the House from entrance to attend an important session to discuss matter of national important.

“CISLAC finds it worrisome that the culture of impunity permeating political atmosphere has been launched against the National Lawmaking Chamber, where a chaotic scene took place on Thursday morning as the police blocked the House of Representatives primarily to prevent the Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and Representatives’ members belonging to the All Progressives Congress (APC), from accessing the Chambers for the proposed special session to discuss President Goodluck Jonathan’s request for a further three-month extension of the emergency rule in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

It continued: “CISLAC sees it as national embarrassment that such important matter regarding the nation’s security demanding exhaustive brainstorming would be discussed in the absence of Speaker of House of Representatives. It is shameful that such matter of national important is handled with poor political ideology, sentiment, partisanship and selfishness.

It is surprising that instead of judicious deployed towards the provision of maximum and effective security of lives and property which remains a key challenge facing the country, Nigerian security force is deployed to nurture political sentiment and intimidating political opposition.

“CISLAC therefore, demands total respect for National Legislative Chambers, submissive to rules of law and strict adherence to human rights”

The organization, also called for equal level playing field for all political candidates contesting under any accredited political party in the country

It equally demands immediate lift of unnecessary security blockades against persons at the National Assembly with a view to restoring peace and orders and uphold utmost respect for the rules of law

Besides,the civil society organisation also advises all persons involved in the ongoing mischievous act to avoid unconstructive political decisions that can disrupt the nation’s peace and harmony, or disregard our legislative chambers and respect the law;

“CISLAC encourages all well-meaning Nigerians and the media to never relent in their demands for justice; and strongly condemn all manners of impunity and violation of fundamental freedom of the citizens by any individual” the statement stated

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