The emergency meeting of the leadership of the National Assembly scheduled for Tuesday afternoon has been called off as a result of the security situation at the legislative building.
Giving reasons, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yussuff Lasun, told reporters that with the tense situation at the National Assembly, the meeting was no longer feasible.
He announced the call-off just as it was disclosed that some senators had allegedly collected a bribe of $1 million each to impeach Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki.
In Lasun’s words: “A meeting cannot be held under this kind of atmosphere.
“It is unfortunate that this is happening; because when the parliament is under siege, democracy is under siege.”
The Deputy Speaker had arrived the National Assembly a few minutes to 12 noon, the time fixed for the cancelled meeting.
Department of State Service operatives, who had locked down the National Assembly since 6am, had allowed him to drive into the complex.
But, he soon drove out again after meeting briefly with the senators and members keeping vigil at the lobby of the White House.
Lasun told reporters that he came to the National Assembly to attend the meeting as earlier fixed.
He added that though his aides already informed him about the development at the complex, he still came for the meeting, and immediately realised that it was no longer feasible.
He also disclosed that he had been in touch with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; and the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara.
When asked what would have been the agenda of the meeting, he replied that he did not know.
When asked when the meeting would be rescheduled to hold, Lasun said he did not know.
On a question on who ordered the blockade of the National Assembly, he responded, “I don’t know. You should know. You, don’t you know?”
– Some senators received $1m bribe to impeach Saraki, Ekweremadu, Kwara lawmaker Rafiu Ibrahim alleges
– Melaye accuses Oshiomhole of collecting signatures to change Senate leadership
Meanwhile, Senator Rafiu Adebayo Ibrahim (PDP-Kwara South), has alleged that lawmakers under the aegis of Parliamentary Support Group, were given $1m each to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The lawmaker said this on Tuesday in an interview with reporters at the National Assembly.
His allegations could, however, not be independently verified, as none of the leading members of the Parliamentary Support Group for Muhammadu Buhari could be reached for comments.
Calls to the mobile telephone numbers of Senators Ovie Omo-Agege and Ali Ndume who are vocal members of the PSG, were neither picked nor returned. A response to a text message sent to them was still being expected as at the time of filing this report.
Ibrahim, who is a member of the pro-Saraki group of Senators, also protested the invasion of the National Assembly by officers of the Department of State Services and the Police.
He said: “I can authoritatively tell you that those senators behind the desecration of the National Assembly collected $1m each to impeach the Senate President and his Deputy. You can quote me anywhere on this.”
A prominent member of the Pro-Saraki group, Senator Dino Melaye (PDP-Kogi West) also accused the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Adams Oshiomhole, of collecting signatures of lawmakers with the aim of effecting a leadership change in the Senate.
Melaye, while briefing his colleagues on the alleged plot by members of the PSG, said, “The chairman of APC is currently meeting with some APC Senators.
“As I speak, we understand he is collecting signatures for the Senate President’s impeachment.
“We also understand that after collecting the signatures, they will be proceeding to the National Assembly to carry out their plan.
“We are waiting for them,” the lawmaker added.
Senator Akpabio resigns as Minority Leader
Meanwhile, Senator Godswill Akpabio has reportedly tendered his resignation as Minority Leader of the Senate.
According to Tribune Online,a letter dated August 4 and addressed to the Senate Deputy Minority Leader, Emmanuel Bwacha and the Peoples Democratic Party lawmakers did not state any reason for the resignation.
Akpabio however thanked the senate Minority leadership and referred to the PDP as “our great party”, “for giving him the opportunity to lead the caucus for three years.”
Punch
