throwback photos: Western House of Assembly members trying to escape a tear gassed assembly 1962

The Western House of Assembly members pictured while trying to escape a tear gassed assembly during the 1962 Western Political crisis.

The incident which transpired over 50 years ago shares “striking resemblance” to the National Assembly invasion which happened last year in Abuja with the only difference being that the lawmakers were trying to get into the tear gassed complex rather than get out.

In 1962, the leader of the Action Group (AG), Chief Obafemi Awolowo accused his deputy, Samuel Ladoke Akintola (Premier of Western Nigeria) of trying to supplant him as Leader of the party..
In May 1962 with the Western House of Assembly set to remove Akintola after the party had earlier passed a vote of no confidence in the premier in a party meeting, crisis erupted on the floor of the house.