All the security detail attached to Speaker of the House of Representatives Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have been withdrawn by the Federal Government, Daily Trust said.
Recall that Tambuwal formally announced his switch from the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to the main opposition, All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday.
“Early this morning, few minutes after midnight to be precise, top level security report informed the Speaker that orders have been given for the withdrawal of his security details.”
The withdrawal of his security details may not be unconnected with his defection from the PDP which didn’t go down well with the party and the presidency.
Shortly after he defected, the PDP called on Tambuwal to resign his position as Speaker having left the party that brought him to the House of Representatives in 2011.
Tambuwal who has become a political star and a big hit with the APC received a rousing welcome on Wednesday, a day after his formal defection at the extraordinary mini national convention of the APC in Abuja. He was accompanied to the convention by 160 of his APC colleagues.
As the Speaker of the House of Reps and the four citizen of the country, he is entitled to a round the clock security made up of men from the Police, Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Security (DSS).
A source told Daily Trust that Tambuwal was told that “a verdict will be entered against him by a Court in Abuja on Thursday. The thing here is that why not wait for the verdict before any action is taken?”
Efforts to reach the Speaker have so far proved unsuccessful. Calls and SMS sent to his spokesman Malam Imam Imam, have so far remained unanswered.
It would be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan called for an emergency meeting late Wednesday following Tambuwal’s exit.
In attendance were the National Chairman of the PDP, Adamu Mu’azu, the Deputy Speaker of the House, Emeka Ihedioha; the Deputy Leader of the House, Mr. Leo Ogor; and a member from Delta State, Ndudi Elumelu, 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, Mr. Muhammed Adoke (SAN).
“The issue of the Speaker and his exit was one of the fundamental issues discussed at the meeting,” he said.
I mean you should have done this including suspension of funds to the Governors much earlier with all those who defected including those from APC to PDP – that is the rule, whoever advised you at the period it stared! Take a leaf from what has happened in the United Kingdom – you have to resign and go for by-election if you’re that properly orgnised otherwise you can see the confusion in the country! If you did it correctly ealier you won’t be in the mess now – we heard OBJ was in charge then! Reason why I advocated for a National Orientation, as far back as 1992, for all those wishing to take up politics after the hand over! Nigeri – TAKU!