– Female Rep dares DSS to shoot her
– We are waiting for Akpabio and his gang — Murray-Bruce, Misau
– Clerk turns back in protest
Condemnation trailed Tuesday’s early morning invasion of the National Assembly by armed security operatives even as the senators and representatives vow to protect the nation’s democracy from alleged unconstitutional assault by the executive.
Former Vice President and a presidential aspirant, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar who was among the first prominent Nigerians to react, described the invasion as a facade to forcefully carry out an alleged Federal Government planned change of leadership of both chambers of the nation’s foremost law making organ.
In a statement in Abuja on Tuesday, he condemned what he described as “this atrocity;” and called on all those involved “to put Nigeria first and abandon this madness.”
He said that the constitution of Nigeria, as amended, guarantees both the independence of the Legislature and separation of powers; adding: “Nigeria is a democracy, not a military dictatorship and we, the people, will never return to tyranny.
“I, therefore, call on President Muhammadu Buhari and acting President Yemi Osinbajo to stop hiding behind one finger and live up to their responsibility of upholding the constitution and law and order, which they swore to on May 29, 2015.
“We warned that if what occurred in Benue last week was not checked on time, it would escalate to the federal level. Today, we are seeing that warning in play.”
He said that the acting President, being a professor of Law, ought to know that setting such a precedent would be an invitation to anarchy; adding: “There are better uses for our security forces at this time than to lay siege to our citadels of democracy. Our people are languishing in the midst of unprecedented insecurity and nationwide killings.
“To thus deploy our security forces in this present manner while Nigerians face these challenges is an abdication of responsibility, to say the least.”
While asking Nigerians to be watchful and mobilised to defend democracy, he further said that they must remember that “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.”
Female Rep dares DSS to shoot her
A member of the House of Representatives, Boma Goodhead, dared the invading operatives of the Department of State Services to shoot her as she arrived at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
Goodhead, who is from Rivers State, approached the operatives and shouted at them.
She shouted: “I dare you to shoot, shoot me. How can you come here and be embarrassing us?
“Was this what Jonathan did to Buhari? You are all a disgrace.”
Following her protest, she was allowed to enter the premises.
We are waiting for Akpabio and his gang — Murray-Bruce, Misau
In his reaction, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce 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 on Tuesday.
According to him, senators were 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 sai: “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. ”
National Assembly blockade: Clerk turns back in protest
The Clerk to the National Assembly, Mr Mohammed Sani-Omolori, on Tuesday 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.
He said: “Why are they preventing staff from entering? They should allow them to go in and do their work.
“Why are they stopping people?”
Sani-Omolori added that if his members of staff were locked out, there was no need for him to go into the premises.
Senators, Reps gain access into National Assembly
Meanwhile, some members of the National Assembly gained entry into the legislative complex, even as security agents blocked access to the complex.
Senator Ben Murray Bruce made the revelation on his Twitter handle, @benmurraybruce, alongside some photos of legislators, who have managed to find their way into the complex.
He said: “Outside the National Assembly chambers with other defenders of democracy; Senators and House of Reps members. A few of us finally got our way in, but the media have been blocked from entry. However, we have our phones & will make sure injustice doesn’t prevail. #SaveOurDemocracy ”
“We will forever defend this hard fought democracy. Illegality will never stand! We are now in the complex but are yet to get access to the chambers as staff of the National Assembly in charge of this have been blocked from entering. #SaveOurDemocracy”
We’re keeping vigil inside NASS lobby, lawmakers say
Meanwhile, senators and members of the House of Representatives who are against the lockdown of the National Assembly by DSS operatives, have appealed to Nigerians to join them in saving democracy.
The lawmakers, numbering 60 senators and 120 Reps, stated that the lockdown 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.
Speaking on behalf of the lawmakers, a Peoples Democratic Party member from Kogi State, Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf, said the 60 senators and 120 Reps were keeping vigil inside the lobby of the National Assembly building.
He said: “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.”
National Assembly employees sing ‘APC, they have failed’
Employees of the National Assembly protesting the blockade of the complex by operatives of the Department of State Services on Tuesday booed a member of the House of Representatives, Mr. Johnson Agbonayinma.
He is a member of the All Progressives Congress.
On sighting the lawmaker, 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.
He began by asking why Peoples Democratic Party members were at the National Assembly in the morning.
But, the protesting employees became enraged, accusing him of being part of the plot to cause a crisis at the National Assembly.
As Agbonayinma abandoned the interview and hurried away into the premises, the protesters followed him, shouting, “shame”, “shame”, “shame.”
Security agents cite orders from above
Armed and masked officials of the Department of State Services had blocked access into the National Assembly complex.
The security agents arrived at the complex as early as 6.00 am.
The armed men prevented staff, legislators and journalists from entering the complex.
Punch
