Reps to probe attack on Ex-Head of State, Gowon by British MP

By Kassim Omomia

The House of Representatives is to probe a recent verbal attack by a member of the British House of Commons, Tom Tugendhat on former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon

The action followed a resolution passed by the Honourable members after debating a motion of urgent national importance , on the “need to respond to the deliberate attempts by a member of the British House of Commons to cause crisis in Nigeria by making false allegations capable of inciting violence against the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon and causing breach of the peace”

The motion sponsored by Honourable Yusuf Gagdi, had among other demands, requested the Speaker to write to his colleague, the Speaker of the House of Commons, to express the displeasure of the Nigeria House of Representatives  that a member of the House of Commons has taken advantage of the parliamentary privilege to disparage a former Nigerian Head of State, Gen.Gowon

The Green chamber  also demanded that the MP Tom Tugendhat offered apology to General Gowon , the people and Government of Nigeria’ for making such claims in parliament that are capable of creating conflict and breaching the peace in Nigeria.’

Similarly, the House further requested that the British High Commissioner in Nigeria be summoned to explain why despite demands even the UK Government has failed to offer an apology for the action of their MP, Mr Tugendhat, who chairs the Foreign Affairs Select Committee of the House of Commons, knowing full well the effect such remarks can make in Nigeria

Debating the motion, Honourable Gagdi, expressed concern over the weighty allegations levelled against General Gowon by MP, Tugendhat without evidence in support of the claims

He disclosed that the MP, who is also the Chairman of Foreign Affairs Select Committee of the House of Commons, had accused Gowon of taking half of the Central Bank of Nigeria’, CBN, with him when he went on exile to the United Kingdom after he was toppled in a military coup

Gagdi noted that such weighty allegation coming from Tugendhat, without concrete proof, evidence , was capable of creating the breach to peace, law and order in Nigeria

He wondered what the British lawmaker expected of the warm and cordial relationship that has existed between Nigeria and Uk, without first and foremost deploying diplomatic channels available to him to ascertain the veracity of the allegations before addressing  the parliament on the subject matter

The lawmaker from Plateau further argued that the action of the British MP was deliberate, if not, it was a calculated attempt to exploit the faultlines of Nigeria’ society to create conflict , exacerbate crises and create conditions that make governing doubtful and progress impossible

He warned therefore, that there was the urgent need for the House to act and put the records straight

Members who contributed supported the motion  but requested that the matter be investigated first and foremost before necessary actions are taken