The All Progressives Youth Forum (APYF), the largest and most vibrant youth wing of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has formally welcomed the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, to the party.
According to the group, Speaker Tambuwal has for long demonstrated the kind of progressive and change-minded leadership that the APC has continuously advocated for by always speaking truth to power; taking bold and decisive actions to drive Nigeria forward; and, setting aside partisan interests in the fulfillment of his patriotic duty as a Nigerian first, and an elected national figure second. His joining the APC signifies that the tide is turning and the time has come for Nigerians that put Nigeria first to direct the helm of our affairs.
“However, everyone has not welcomed these productive developments for our great nation, as in view of Speaker Tambuwal dumping the PDP for the APC, the Nigerian Force (NPF), acting like an armed wing of the PDP have withdrawn the police detail that are attached to the Office of the Speaker.
“In a statement issued by the Force Public Relations Officer, the NPF extra-judicially states that the withdrawal of Speaker Tambuwal’s security detail is in accordance with Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution. However, since when has it been under the purview of the police force to serve as interpreters of electoral law when INEC and the pertinent courts are yet to deliver a verdict on pending and applicable cases on similar issues?
“Section 50 (1) (b) of the 1999 Constitution explicitly states that the only criteria for one to hold the title of Speaker or Deputy Speaker is elected membership in the House. As it is clear that despite his defection from the PDP, Speaker Tambuwal remains the only recognized and duly-elected Speaker of the House, Nigerians must come together to vehemently question the partisan actions of the NPF on this matter, as the withdrawal of Speaker Tambuwal’s security detail endangers the person of the fourth highest-ranking public official in Nigeria today.
“As Nigeria slowly but surely moves towards the attainment of democratic precedents that will guide our nation, the APYF cautions the Federal Government and the PDP against misusing the security divisions of the Federal Government to harass, intimidate or endanger the person of opposition party figures.
“As a lawyer who has the requisite qualifications and knowledge on such issues, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) must be aware that such extrajudicial and illegal actions trample on the tenets of our democracy. In this regard, we call on the IGP to immediately intervene on this issue, and demand in the strongest possible terms that Speaker Tambuwal’s security detail be at once restated,” the APC youths stated.
