Mark shuts down National Assembly

Senators yesterday could not carry out their duties following the invasion of the National Assembly complex by policemen. Senators were seen in groups in their chamber discussing the ugly incident. It took some time to bring order to the Chambers.
Senator Olusola Adeyeye, (Osun Central)
was particularly disturbed by the unsavory incident. The Senate President read the prayer around 11.48am for commencement of plenary. Before Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba, could announce the first business of the day, Mark cut him short. He announced the shutting down of the National Assembly. He noted that there would not be any business in the National Assembly until Tuesday. Mark said: “Because of the ugly incident that happened here in the National Assembly this morning,
I have decided to shut down the National
Assembly until Tuesday next week – both
the House of Representatives and the
Senate. “It is unfortunate. We will invite the Inspector General (of Police) here on
Tuesday also. “You will recall that we had
asked the Service Chiefs to be here. They
were all here this morning but I have
spoken to them and have told them to be
here on Tuesday. “So there will be no
business in the National Assembly today
and the place remains shut until Tuesday. “
Some Senators took to the floor to protest
the police invasion. Adeyeye said the import of tear gassing Senators and House members should not be glossed over. He noted that when lawmakers are tear-gassed, it is those they represent that are actually being tear-gassed. Adeyeye cautioned that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should not allow the country to collapse on its head describing the incident as shameful and despicable. In a statement entitled “Police Invasion: Mark condemns the Use of teargas on lawmakers, staff” Chief Press Secretary to the Senate President, Paul Mumeh, said that the Senate President and Chairman of the National Assembly, David Mark, condemned the use of teargas on Senators and members of the House of Representatives by the police. Mumeh said that Mark described the action as “barbaric.” It said that Mark also ordered the immediate suspension of plenary session in both chambers of the National Assembly.
“This followed the invasion of the National Assembly by security operatives who thoroughly tear gassed Senators, members of the House of Representatives, staff and journalists this morning. “An embarrassed Senator Mark, who had rushed out to the House of Representatives’ Chamber ostensibly to address the situation on hearing the development, was thoroughly tear gassed along with his colleagues while returning to his office after conferring with the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal and his deputy Emeka Ihedioha. “After a brief
meeting with principal officers of the
National Assembly Mark said “After due
consultation with my colleagues in both
chambers of National Assembly on this ugly development, we have therefore agreed that today’s session be suspended forthwith.” It said that Mark “condemned the application of maximum force on parliamentarians and civil servants who were in their respective offices to do their duties.”

Source: Radio Biafra