A Day After Defection, Reps Speaker Tambuwal Stripped Of Security Detail

A day after Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal formally announced his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), his security aides have been withdrawn reportedly on the orders of President Goodluck Jonathan, according to a report on SaharaReporters. Mr. Tambuwal was excitedly welcomed on Wednesday after the conclusion of the APC's extraordinary national convention in Abuja.
But a source close to the speaker alleged that the Presidency was so rattled by the reception accorded to Mr. Tambuwal that a decision was made to remove the speaker’s police and intelligence security.

As Nigeria’s 4th citizen in the hierarchy of protocol, the Speaker is entitled to high-level security protection usually made up of officers from the police, civil defense corps, and the Department of State Security (SSS). The security agents jointly provide around-the-clock security to the Speaker and his immediate family.

According to source, “Early this morning, a few minutes after midnight to be precise, a top-level security report informed the Speaker that orders had been given for the withdrawal of his security details. He was also told that a court in Abuja would enter a verdict against him on Wednesday or Thursday. The ironic thing here is, why not wait for the verdict before any action is taken?”

Efforts to get the speaker’s direct reaction have so far failed. Calls and text messages sent to his spokesperson, Imam Imam, remained unanswered.