- Lawmakers Makers Task Nigerians To Save Democracy,
- Saraki, Dogara Meet On Thursday The widely condemned siege on the National Assembly today, has resulted into the dismissal of the Director of State Security (DSS). An action that was quickly followed by the DSS’ arrest and subsequent detention, as information gathered from reliable sources was disclosed to The Legend.All these far reaching actions, was rolled out in less than 9 hours, by an obvious exacerbated Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo.
It was also gathered that the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara; plans to meet on Thursday to discuss issues of national concern, and expectedly to strategize on how to forestall any plan of the executive to effect changes in the leadership of the national assembly, as is being speculated.
Earlier in the day, the lawmakers who vehemently opposed the offensive action of the DSS operatives, had appealed to Nigerians to join them in saving their hard won democracy.
The representatives in the upper and lower chambers numbering about 180 said that the lockdown has confirmed the fears they had earlier expressed that there was a plot to force a change of the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives.
Peoples Democratic Party member from Kogi State, Mr. Tajudeen Yusuf, who spoke on behalf of lawmakers said 60 senators and 120 Reps were keeping vigil inside the lobby of the National Assembly building, to save Nigeria’s democracy.
Said he, “ We are inside the lobby of the White House; 60 senators and 120 members. We are there because we must protect democracy. An assault on the legislature is an assault on democracy.
“We call on Nigerians to rise and oppose this assault on the National Assembly. Democracy is about expressing diverse views. At the end, majority will carry the day, while the minority would have had their say.”
In the same vein, employees of the National Assembly were also seen protesting the blockade of the complex operatives of the Department of State Services, and seen booing the operatives.
They were also booing the APC. On sighting one APC lawmaker, Hon. Agbonayinma , they broke into a song, “APC, they have failed”, “APC, they have failed!”
Agbonayinma, who attempted to grant an interview to journalists, was interrupted as he struggled to speak, so he abandoned the interview and hurried away into the premises, the protesters followed him, shouting, “shame”, “shame”, “shame.”
Senator Ben Murray-Bruce has said he and his colleagues in the Peoples Democratic Party were at the National Assembly waiting for Senator Godswill Akpabio to invade the complex.
He said this in an interview with journalists at the main entrance of the assembly complex this Tuesday.
According to him, senators are currently waiting at the foyer because the staff of the National Assembly were not allowed by the security operatives to access the building to turn on the air conditioning.
He said, “We are here, we are waiting for (Godswill) Akpabio and his gang to come and invade. Only the democrats are here.
“We have informed the British and American Embassies, they are waiting for the list (of the invaders) to revoke their visas.
Speaking in a similar vein, Senator Isa Misau said, “We heard just like you that some people are coming here to impeach the leadership, we came to see how such a thing can happen at a time we are on recess. There are procedures of doing things in a democracy. ”
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori, was equaly refused to enter the National Assembly complex in protest against the operatives of the Department of State Services who denied members of staff access.
Sani-Omolori, had approached the security operatives to make enquiries on why they blocked members of staff from entering their offices.
When he got no answers, he simply turned and walked back to his car.
We shall give you update of developments as they unfold.