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| Mark Tambuwal |
A statement by Senate President's Chief Press Secretary, Paul Mumeh, said the speaker appealed to Mark to pardon the misdeed of Abdul Malik Usman Cheche (PDP, Niger) who reportedly held the Senate president by his shoulders, shaking him vehemently and almost removed his cap when the latter visited the House chamber to calm frayed nerves following the pandemonium that accompanied the invasion of the National Assembly by security forces.
The invasion followed attempts by the police to stop Tambuwal from gaining access to the National Assembly as a result of his defection from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to All Progressives Congress (APC) on October 28.
Earlier, Niger State Governor, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, had apologised to Mark over the unruly behaviour of Cheche, promising to discipline him for assaulting the Senate president whom he described as a statesman and former military governor of Niger State.
The statement which quoted Mark as saying he had forgiven Cheche for his action, also explained the reason for his visit to the House of Representatives' chamber at the height of the pandemonium which engulfed the National Assembly on Thursday.
According to the statement, Mark said he visited the House "to ascertain the safety of Speaker Aminu Tambuwal and his colleagues having received reports that canisters of tear gas were targeted at the lawmakers."
The statement added: "I also went to confer with Mr. Speaker on the need to suspend plenary in both chambers in order to restore sanity to an environment that had turned restive and becoming uncontrollable. My intention was to safeguard the sanctity of the hallowed chamber and to guarantee the respect of the legislature. I consider the unwarranted and needless attack on my person by Hon. Abdulmalik Usman Cheche as a price and sacrifice for leadership. It is a sacrifice I am prepared to accept.
source: thisdaylive
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