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‘We Should Clap For Police For Not Using Their AK47 On Sowore’, Says Rep Yusuf Gagdi
They have the force, they have AK47 [rifles], but they decided to take the matter to court for the third arm of government to interpret the position of the law
Abuja, Nigeria — A House of Representatives member, Yusuf Adamu Gagdi, has stirred controversy after stating that Nigerians should “clap” for the police for not using their AK47 rifles on activist and Sahara Reporters publisher, Omoyele Sowore.
Gagdi, who represents Pankshin/Kanke/Kanam Federal Constituency in Plateau State and chairs the House Committee on Navy, made the remarks during an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday.
He defended the police’s decision to take Sowore to court over his branding of Inspector General of Police (IGP) Kayode Egbetokun as “illegal,” arguing that the police exercised restraint despite having the force to act otherwise.
“They have the force, they have AK47 [rifles], but they decided to take the matter to court for the third arm of government to interpret the position of the law,” Gagdi said. “If they had done that, we should be clapping for them.”
The lawmaker also defended President Bola Tinubu’s decision to extend Egbetokun’s tenure for four years, citing the Police Act signed into law by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2020.
“I am justifying the decision of President Bola Tinubu. I am faulting Sowore because the bill was not signed into law by Tinubu,” Gagdi said. “It was signed by Muhammadu Buhari in 2020. Where was he?”
He questioned why Sowore was now challenging the law years after it was enacted, accusing him of stirring political and regional sentiments.
“People have succeeded in personalising this conversation,” Gagdi added. “They have succeeded in bringing regional and tribal sentiments into it. To me, as a natural Nigerian, it is unacceptable.”
Gagdi warned against any attempt to undermine the police and the legal process, insisting that the National Assembly followed due process in passing the Police Act.
“Why are people thinking that Tinubu just stood up and signed a letter appointing the IGP?” he asked. “The police council sat, made their recommendation, and Mr President approved it. And someone has an issue with that?”
He further claimed that some individuals were instigating chaos over the issue.
“We will not allow that to happen. We will continue to clarify this subject matter,” Gagdi declared.
Gagdi’s remarks have become public debate, with critics accusing him of making reckless statements that trivialize police violence.
Meanwhile, Sowore has continued to challenge the legality of Egbetokun’s appointment, maintaining that it violates the constitutional provisions on police leadership succession.
Previously,
Abuja, Nigeria – January 29, 2025 – Justice Musa Suleiman Liman of the Federal High Court in Abuja has granted bail to Omoyele Sowore, former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), with conditions set at N10 million and one surety of the same amount.
As part of the bail conditions, the court ruled that the surety must have verified landed property in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Additionally, Sowore is required to deposit his passport with the court and submit an affidavit of means