Bagbin demands apology from Interior Minister

Minority leader, Alban Bagbin has asked the Minister for Interior, Alhaji Malik Alhassan Yakubu, MP to render an unqualified apology to him and the entire nation.

Bagbin demanded the apology when he addressed a press conference Friday in Parliament on the alleged assault of NDC members who attended the People’s Assembly in Tamale. The two gentlemen, Mr. Rawbil Mutawakil and Mr. Mohammed Abdul Malik Cheno who were allegedly manhandled by the NPP supporters also attended the press conference.

After narrating what he called the facts of the matter which he first raised during the Parliamentary Forum in Accra some two weeks ago, Bagbin said, “In the light of the foregoing, it is difficult to understand why the Minister for the Interior attempted to mislead the whole nation at the Parliamentary Forum, by asserting that there was no such incident at the Tamale People’s Assembly. I think he owes it as a duty to himself and his conscience to apologise to the good people of this country for his attempt to deceive the public.”

The two gentlemen according to the minority leader attended the People’s Assembly in Tamale and after attempts by supporters of the ruling NPP to prevent them from asking questions failed, they were beaten by the NPP supporters whilst their property were destroyed.

“As the function continued and the two friends had their attention focused on the answers being given by the ministers, Mutawakil was suddenly was suddenly slapped violently on the cheek from behind by an NPP member, Mohammed Iddrisu popularly known as ‘Irfa’. Mutawakil rose to defend himself but was restrained by his friend Cheno. Mr. John Yakubu walked back to the Mutawakil and threatened that he will have him arrested if he did not shut up. Mutawakil responded that he could not be arrested because it was a public function and he had every right like everybody else to be there.

At this point there was quite a pandemonium in the hall with several members of the crowd threatening to lynch them.

Realizing that their lives were in danger, Mutawakil walked up to the high table to lodge a complaint about the assault on him and the general harassment they were being subjected to.

He made the complaint to the newly appointed Municipal Chief Executive of Tamale Mr. Iddrisu Adam Yoggu. The function was interrupted at this point and police bodyguards of the ministers present walked up to Mutawakil and grabbed him by the waist and led him back to his seat. He complained to the police about the slap he had received and identified Irfa as the one who slapped him. The police explained that they were bodyguards and could therefore not arrest his assailant.

The police then led them out of the hall with some members of the crowd following and hitting them. The police escorted them to the Regional Library nearby and asked them to go home. The two friends after this unpleasant experience took the advice and went home,” the Minority leader told the press.

Four days after this incident, Bagbin said a group of NPP youth followed up to Cheno’s house and destroyed benches and other furniture outside the house and left note that they will beat him up if they laid hands on him.

The Interior Minister denied the allegations at the Parliamentary Forum and described the Tamale People’s Assembly as one of the most peaceful in the country.