From FRED ITUA, Abuja
Decorum and common sense were yesterday thrown into the waste bin when some fierce-looking and heavily-armed police officers, purportedly stormed Nicon Luxury Hotel in Abuja, venue of a colloquium on Freedom of Information (FOI) Act 2011.
The police officers, numbering over 50, and led by an Assistant Commissioner of Police who refused to disclose his identity, would have prevented former vice president Atiku Abubakar, Senate President David Mark as well as the Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, whose protocol officers were said to be on ground for the event from attending the colloquium.
Other dignitaries who would have attended the event include Lagos lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, SAN, Malam Nasir el-Rufai, Chief Audu Ogbeh, Gen. Ahmed Aboki (rtd), Director General, National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, representatives of the minister of justice, chairmen of ICPC, EFCC, para-military organisations, resource persons drawn from the United Kingdom, the United States and South Africa, among others.
The two-day colloquium was organised by Anti-Corruption Network (ACN), headed by former member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dino Melaye.
No concrete reason was given by the police why the programme was aborted.
Addressing newsmen over the police officers' action, the convener of the event, Melaye, said he was yet to understand the rationale behind the clampdown.
He said: "We were here throughout last night (Monday) in preparation for today's programme (yesterday). We've made payment for the venue and the feeding. This morning (yesterday), we came over to open the hall and the management of the hotel briefed us that there was an order from the IGP stopping the programme. I then asked why the police will stop a programme where they've been invited as participants.
"I've two letters here acknowledged by the Office of the IGP, in which we told them to send 20 participants. The theme of the colloquium is 'Demystifying the complexities of FoI and how to empower the people'. We invited all the security agencies.
"It is outrageous and laughable. I don't know what to say. Nigeria is now a police state. What we are doing is in the interest of Nigeria. We are here to enlighten Nigerians. I don't know what the IGP and this government are afraid of.
"We are going to consult with our lawyers and we are going to sue the NPF and this hotel. As at Monday night, we had released N4 million to this hotel. This is not even a protest. It is an intellectual discourse. What impression are we giving those international speakers that have been invited."
Balarabe Musa, former governor of old Kaduna State said at the venue that he was bitter over what he described as a show of shame.
Addressing newsmen after the hotel was shut down to prevent participants from gaining access into the venue, Musa said: "All the relevant people in government have been invited and most of them have indicated to be here. The conclusion we can get from this is that the president himself must have ordered that this event must not take place. The president is unhappy about this event.'
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Our policemen do the craziest of things without concrete reasons we know that.