NSA Denies Ordering Arrest of Tambuwal, as PDP Waves off Impeachment Threat against Jonathan

The Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) has debunked the report that the NSA, Col. Mohammed Sambo Dasuki (rtd.) after consultation with the Vice President, Arch. Namadi Sambo, ordered for the arrest ofed in the attack on Policemen and the disturbance of public peace, at the that no single member of the PDP House of Representatives is disqualified.

Senator Jubrin said, “All the Southeast members of the House of Representatives seeking re election were cleared and given clearance. No one was disqualified,”

THISDAY gathered that the same clean bill of health would be given to all other members of the House of Representatives in other zones.

“This is another way of wooing the House members not to follow the footsteps of their colleagues in the House of Repre- sentatives. They want automatic ticket. This is sure way to get. It is a process and the party is doing it through due process.” the source said

Also, it has come to light that the threat of impeachment of President Jonathan by some members of the House of Representatives following last week Thursday’s debacle in which the police barred and tear-gassed the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, in the precinct of the House, may be a hoax after all.

THISDAY checks reveal that the aggrieved members contemplated the move against the president out of annoyance about what happened to the Speaker, some opposition principal officers, and themselves.

“It was a spur of the moment kind of thing. It was an angry reaction to what they considered as humiliation and abuse of our rights by the police,” a member who was involved in the confusion but preferred anonymity told THISDAY.

“We were really angry when what happened that day happened. So, we all went into the chambers in a state of mind that was beclouded with anger and we sought revenge. by wanting to take on the president. But before we dispersed the tension has subsided.

“I don’t think we will re-visit the issue again when we resume,” another lawmaker explained.

It was learnt that after the House went into an executive session last Thursday, some of the members, bristling with anger from their encounter with the police, saw the whole episode as being orchestrated by the presidency. They, therefore, wanted to raise a motion for the impeachment of the president.

However, Tambuwal, after soothing frayed nerves of his colleagues, appealed to them set aside the matter.

“The Speaker told us that if the House toes the line of those urging it to commence with the process of removing the president, then it would only overheat the polity; considering the fact that the 2015 election is just around the corner,” an aide to a principal officer who was among those who scaled the barred gate told THISDAY.

Whether true or false, the reality on ground is that some members favourably disposed to this issue had collected signatures of about 170 of their colleagues in their bid. It was also learnt that although they have heeded the Speaker’s counsel in the interim, they may not do so again if he or any of them; or the House collectively, is put in the line of fire again.

“Expect to see more fireworks from us when we resume if the presidency or the police maltreat or arrest the Speaker,” a ranking member said.

Indication that the Speaker is yet to hear the last from the executive arm emerged during the weekend when he issued a statement that he is aware “that the Inspector General of Police has ordered that he be invited to the Force Headquarters and that he be arrested if he resisted.”