Victor Ogene, member representing Ogbaru Federal Constituency, Anambra State, in the House of Representatives
has explained the incident which led to scaling of the National Assembly gate last Thursday by members of the House of Representatives.

In a statement by his media aide, Edward Dibiana, Ogene explained that the action was necessitated by the desire of the lawmakers to ensure their personal safety as the environment was besieged by strange elements, some of whom were hooded.

“As you know, lawmakers got to the National Assembly gate at different times. By the time some of them, including Hon. Ogene, massed around the gate, they discovered that some security operatives in plain clothes had infiltrated their ranks and started releasing pepper spray on them, while calling for reinforcement.

Rep member scales a gate: Ogene says he was scared by hooded men with pepper spray

“In the midst of the confusion, some of them decided to go over the gate, into the National Assembly complex, instead of leaving themselves open to torture and humiliation.

“Indeed, they had to choose between being bludgeoned and pepper sprayed to death, or make good an escape. Remember that the former Senate President, Late Chuba Okadigbo was killed in Kano after pepper spray was used on him. No one loves to be a dead hero,” said Dibiana.

Ogene however clarified that he was not part of any move to impeach President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Besides being a top stalwart of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which has already endorsed President Jonathan’s re-election bid, Hon. Ogene is of the firm belief that such a move is not only unwarranted, but would also constitute an unnecessary distraction in the current efforts at national healing, amid mounting security challenges”, the statement by Dibiana said.

“I have neither seen any such notice of impeachment, nor would I be part of any such undertaking”, said Ogene, according to the statement.