Radical Nigerian Lawmaker Who Pulled Gun To Make A Point During Debate Dies

A Second Republic lawmaker and veteran Journalist, Sidi Ali, famed for once pulling a gun in the chambers of the House of Representatives has died. He was aged 86.

GWG.ng reports that the elder statesman, who is also the father of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s acting Director, Corporate Communication Department, Hakama Sidi Ali was devoted to the service of the nation, particularly in the realm of public information.

A human rights activist and former lawmaker, Shehu Sanni who posted on his X handle on Friday, described the deceased as a human library who could recall every event in Nigeria’s history.

“I received the sad news of the demise of renowned elder state man, author, journalist, politician, and historian, Alhaji Sidi Ali. The late Sidi a human library was a human library and prolific writer. He was a man who could recall every event that happened in Nigeria till late independence. A great loss. My condolences to his family and people of Kano State,” he said.

Ali served at the Nigerian International Press Centre, the Ministry of Information and the National Broadcasting Commission.

As a respected politician, he held membership in the All Progressives Congress and actively participated in the party’s Elders Committee in Kano State.

Vanguard columnist, Josef Omorotionmwan recalling the incident during the Second Republic when Hon Sidi Ali pulled a gun during sitting wrote in 2018:

In the Second Republic, there was unhindered access into, and free movement within, the premises of the Parliament Buildings at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos until that fateful day in 1982, when Hon. Sidi H. Ali (PRP/Danbatta Federal Constituency, Kano State) came into the chambers of the House of Representatives. He requested to be allowed to speak on a matter of urgent national importance, which Speaker Edwin Ume-ezeoke graciously granted.

At the middle of his presentation, he opened his leather bag and brought out a gun. He threw the gun on the table – directly in front of this writer, Clerk-At-Table then, saying; “Mr. Speaker, I have been complaining to you… I am now prepared to defend myself”. My heart sank into my boots. Gradually, I subconsciously began to sneak away from the position of the gun. I thought I was trying to hide under the Speaker’s table; but I later realised that I was even moving deeper into the danger-prone area.

Normalcy was soon restored to the House and sitting was adjourned for an hour. At the end of the day, Sidi Ali had earned himself a six-month suspension.
It took all this to remind the NASS of the need to protect itself. By the time they installed all the security gadgets and the metal detectors from across the world, entry into the NASS premises and chambers was simply reminiscent of the proverbial camel’s head passing through the eye of the needle.

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