Former Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, has urged ex-Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nasir El-Rufai, to honour the summons issued by the Kaduna State Police Command.
News360 Info reports that the Police had summoned the former governor of Kaduna State alongside seven top members of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) over an attack on its members during a coalition meeting.
In response, El-Rufai threatened to contest the summons in court
However, Tambuwal, during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today programme, maintained that the police cannot curtail freedom of association and assembly as guaranteed by the Constitution.
Tambuwal emphasised that he is a law-abiding citizen of the country, and whoever is invited by the constituted authority should appear.
He said, “Making reference to the Constitution of Nigeria which provides for freedom of expression and Assembly, but most of the time the police tries to hide under the Public Order Act which its provisions are inconsistent with the provisions of the Constitution to come hard on individuals or groups trying to come together or meet.
“There is no need for a permit from the police for a political party to have a meeting. Even when you write to the police, you notify them. In most cases it has to do with political rallies. In most cases it is for the police to provide security at the rallies and guide the political parties not to have clashes on a particular days and times.
“It is just for guidance and not for the police to say you can’t meet. It wasn’t a rally. We were there on a commiseration visit as a coalition to leaders of the coalition that were attacked by thugs, we were not there for anything, we were there just to commiserate with the leaders in Kaduna.
“I’m a law abiding citizen of this country and whoever is invited by the constituted authority should appear, I will advise my brother and friend, El-Rufai, to attend to the invitation of the police.”
