Twenty-four hours after the invasion of the National Assembly complex by masked operatives of the Department of State Security(DSS), the All Progressives Congress (APC) has said the timely intervention of the security personnel prevented a break down of law and order.
The APC had condemned the appearance of the DSS on Tuesday and debunked claims that it’s national chairman, Mr. Adams Oshiomhole had compelled senators from the party to sign an impeachment notice against the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki.
The former Director-General of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura was sacked on Tuesday by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo over the take over of the National Assembly by men of the secret police.
But the ruling party in an apparent change of mind, has said in a statment on Wednesday, that the presence of the DSS, prevented thugs hired by the Senate President, from causing mayhem yesterday.
The APC in a statement by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yekini Nabena, said Saraki hired thugs to prevent senators from impeaching him.
Nabena reiterated the call for Saraki to resign as Senate President, as he no longer has the moral and legitimate ground to occupy the position being a member of the minority Peoples Democratic Party.
The statement read in part: “Following Tuesday’s incident at the National Assembly, our investigations have now uncovered the sinister plot hatched by the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki to foment violence in the legislative chamber all in a bid to stop his impeachment.
“We are now aware that the timely intervention of the security operatives forestalled the planned violence which could have led to possible deaths, injuries and destruction of property in the National Assembly on Tuesday.
“Why did the Senate President mobilise thugs to the National Assembly who almost lynched Hon. E.J. Agbonayinma, the only APC federal lawmaker present but for the timely intervention of security operatives?
“Why did the Senate President reconvene the National Assembly? Ostensibly as a pre-emptive move to frustrate federal lawmakers move to impeach him?
“Is it not curious that only Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) federal lawmakers were present in their numbers-some as early as 7am, while the majority APC federal lawmakers were elsewhere holding a caucus meeting on the state of the nation?
“We call on security agencies and relevant bodies to as a matter of urgency probe these findings and take all necessary and legitimate action to stop these illegalities which pose a direct and ominous threat to our democracy.
“As espoused in our earlier statement, whilst our contention with the leadership of the National Assembly as currently constituted is a matter of public record, we still believe that the legislature as an independent arm of government must be allowed free reign for vibrant contestation of ideas and values amongst its members within the context of their constitutional mandate and for the benefit of the Nigerian people”, Nabena further stated.
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