Osinbajo wields big stick, sacks DSS DG Daura
…Says those involved in Illegal blockade of NASS will be punished
…DSS locks down NASS, leadership meeting aborted, election budget suffers setback.
…PDP, APC, Gov Wike, Atiku, others react
In the what can be regarded as a swift reaction to the siege at the National Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Security Services (DSS), the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo (SAN), on Tuesday wielded the big stick and terminated the appointment of the Director General of the DSS, Lawal Musa Daura, with immediate effect.
Daura’s sack was announced in a statement issued by his spokesman, Mr Laolu Akande.
Daura was also directed to hand over to the most senior officer of the DSS until further notice.
The action of the DSS officials was said to have embarrassed the presidency which moved to sack the the DSS to stop further embarrassment to the presidency.
Osinbajo also described the unauthorised takeover of the National Assembly complex earlier Tuesday as a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order.
The Acting President said that the unlawful act which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency was condemnable and completely unacceptable.
Osinbajo consequently assured Nigerians that all persons within the law enforcement apparatus who participated in the travesty will be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.
Meanwhile, the sacked DSS DG Lawal Daura, was said to have been arrested and detained immediately his sack was announced.
He was reportedly arrested after Osinbajo relieved him of his duties on Tuesday afternoon.
Osinbajo had summoned Daura alongside the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Ibrahim Idris, over the siege laid to the National Assembly earlier in the day.
Federal lawmakers were denied access to the legislative chamber, fuelling speculations that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) was perfecting its plot to oust Senate President Bukola Saraki.
The two security chiefs arrived Aso Rock at different times. While Idris got to the Presidential Villa at about 12:35pm, Daura got there at about 1:15pm.
After briefing Osinbajo, the former DSS DG was whisked away.
State House correspondents who were waiting to speak with the security chiefs did not know that Daura had been taken away through another exit.
But reacting to the removal of Daura, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) advised Osinbajo to shed the idea of using the sacked DSS boss as ‘the fall guy’ for Tuesday’s invasion of the National Assembly by security forces.
The party insisted that the invasion by the DSS and Police was with the absolute knowledge and approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, Osinbajo, and the APC, adding that Daura’s sack was an “afterthought, diversionary and deceitful”.
The PDP in a separate statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, said that it issued series of statements at the weekend alerting Nigerians to the plots against the National Assembly and democracy ahead of Buhari’s overseas trip, noting that the Presidency was silent on all the alarms raised by the party.
The party described the Presidency’s sack of Daura as “a damage-control stunt and a knee-jerk gimmick” which came as a response to the national and international outcry against the armed invasion of our legislature by security agents as directed by the Buhari Presidency.
The party commended PDP federal lawmakers, Nigerians, the media as well as the international community who rose in defence of the county’s democracy, even as it reminded Nigerians not to let down their guards.
Earlier on Tuesday, the National Assembly was locked down as DSS operatives prevented staff, journalists, workers of banks and other businesses and visitors from entering the complex.
Also, the expected meeting of principal officers of both the Senate and House of Representatives failed to hold as none of the principal officers of both chambers except the Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Lasun Yusuf, were absent.
However, the deputy speaker who stayed within the complex for just 37 minutes, told journalists while driving out at 12.30 pm that the meeting has been called off.
Yusuf also said attempt to impeach Saraki would be difficult.
The inability of the National Assembly leadership to hold the meeting will definitely create a setback for legislative approval of the virement request from President Buhari to finance the 2019 general elections.
At about 1pm, an air conditioned white Toyota coaster bus conveyed the chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu and management staff of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), surfaced supposedly coming for the proposed meeting with NASS leadership, headed towards the complex annexed without talking to the press.
However, the National Assembly said the meeting will be rescheduled.
Both the Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker Yakubu Dogara in a joint statement described the siege on the National Assembly as a coup on democracy.
In a joint press statement by both leaders, they described the siege as another attempt to subvert the nation’s democracy as the unnecessary militarisation of the legislative complex and harassment of legislators and the workers in the complex could not be justified in a democracy.
They said it was obvious that the public outcry from Nigerians and members of the international community against “this illegality, this desecration of the sanctity of the legislature and this flagrant abuse of powers” forced the government to relax the directives given to the security men as they later allowed the legislators to walk from the main gate into the foyer.
“It is not clear what the plan of the government is but information reaching us indicated that some Senators who are pro-executive arm are being camped somewhere here in Abuja and they are being compelled to sign an impeachment notice that would later be brought to the Assembly complex. The Senate Chamber will now be forced open to enable an illegal change of leadership take place in the Senate.
“It should be noted that the Senate formally adjourned on July 24, 2018 and it stands adjourned. To reconvene, there is a process which has to be followed.
Also, it should be clear that these Senators who are camped somewhere know the procedure for changing the leadership of the Senate.
Both the leadership of the APC and the Presidency officials masterminding this illegality know that they do not have the numbers to lawfully carry out this action.
“Therefore, we call on members of the international community to view this development as a coup against democracy.
This is a throw-back to the inglorious days of military rule where dissent is not tolerated and freedom of association and other fundamental human rights are willfully and carelessly violated.
“We urge Nigerians and the international community to condemn this illegal invasion of the National Assembly complex and the attempt to asphyxiate the legislature as undemocratic, uncivilized and irresponsible”, they added.
PDP calls for Buhari’s impeachment
Also, the opposition PDP has called on the National Assembly to immediately pull the full weight of all legislative instruments against Buhari, as that is the only way to save the nation from an imminent collapse.
The PDP described the invasion of nation’s highest legislative institution barely a few months after the Senate mace was blazingly carted away by armed hoodlums, as ‘condemnable, reprehensible, unpardonable, and completely unacceptable”.
Calling for Buhari’s impeachment, the PDP said: “President Buhari and his APC have consecutively and deliberately put our nation and its democracy on harm’s way and the National Assembly, as representatives of the people, must eschew all partisan interests and save the nation by immediately deploying all legislative instruments against President Buhari before it is too late.
“It is instructive to state that if today’s assault on our legislature had succeeded, it would have been the second time Muhammadu Buhari would have toppled constitutional rule in our country”.
With this siege coming barely a week after presiding officers of the Senate were held hostage at their residences, the party said it has become clear that the Buhari Presidency and the APC intend to forcefully overrun and ultimately shutdown the highest lawmaking organ of the Nigerian government and pave the way for the total suspension of constitutional rule in the country.
The PDP, therefore, called on the government of Britain to support Nigeria at this perilous time by not shielding President Buhari in London.
The DSS officials that took over security of the last gate and the White House complex took position as early as 6.30am to prevent anybody including legislators before a member of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, Hon. Boma Goodhead, fought her way in when she dared and challenged the DSS officials.
It was after her entry that the DSS started allowing other legislators in upon proper identification while they blocked the exit gate of the police post entrance with a coaster bus marked BW 213 RBC and a DSS utility vehicle.
The Clerk of the National Assembly, Alhaji Dani Omolori, who was initially denied entry, later left in fury because the members of staff of the National Assembly were not allowed to enter their offices.
“I cannot go inside an empty office because my staff are being kept out. What would I be doing inside”, he said while he told National Assembly staff who cannot wait to go home.
Also, the president of the Parliamentary Staff Association of Nigeria (PASAN), Alhaji Mohammed, admonished staff to remain calm and avoid erratic behaviour.
While journalists were kept outside, the legislators mostly of the PDP sat on the foyer of the White House keeping watch over the entrance of the Senate chamber.
The legislators later presented a list to journalists, showing that 49 PDP legislators signed to express vote of confidence on Saraki.
Senator Dino Melaye (PDP, Kogi West) said the legislators will continue to keep vigil on the chamber to forestall attempt by anybody to break in with the aim of holding unauthorised sitting.
Melaye described it as a siege on democracy and a coup against the popular wish of Nigerians.
Reprieve came at about 2.49 pm when the DSS operatives suddenly vacated their positions and took off in their vehicles in a manner that could be linked to the sacking of their boss, Lawal Daura and a directive from the Presidency.
The foyer of the White House was thrown into a frenzy mood as the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, made a dramatic appearance at about few minutes to 4pm and his colleagues sang different songs including “Freedom Come by Struggle, Freedom Comes”, shaking hands and congratulating him.
Saraki, however, left 15 minutes later and went out of the building and barely 30 minutes later Speaker Dogara surfaced at the National Assembly.
Wike condemns invasion
Meanwhile, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike has described the invasion of National Assembly by half masked operatives of DSS on Tuesday as a siege on the National Assembly by Federal Government Security Forces.
The governor, who spoke on Tuesday, in Port Harcourt, declared that the alleged assault on the National Assembly by Security Forces which he claimed to have been ordered by the APC Federal Government, was condemnable and had the capacity to truncate the nation’s democracy.
Governor Wike, therefore, urged Nigerians to rise up against the alleged growing dictatorship of the APC-led Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari.
The Rivers State Governor called on the National Assembly members to stand firm in defence of the nation’s democracy, saying that all the members of National Assembly should “resist that anti-democratic attempt and stand-up to defend our democracy.”
The governor berated his colleagues who were happy with the alleged anti-democratic plots of the APC Federal Government.
“Those governors happy with what is happening today should know that it will be their turn tomorrow. The same cabal will turn against these governors.
This is condemnable and unacceptable to us. You must follow set down rules. You cannot talk about fighting corruption and refuse to respect the rule of law,” he stated.
Action legislative matter – APC
But the APC has described the blocade of the National Assembly by operatives of the DSS as a legislative matter, adding that it is unfortunate that some people will link it to the National Chairman of the party, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
The Acting National Publicity Secretary of the APC, Yekini Nabena, in a press statement on Tuesday, said: “Our attention has been drawn to mischievous attempts in some partisan quarters to link Tuesday’s developments in the National Assembly to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.
“While the party is monitoring the developments in the National Assembly like every other concerned Nigerian and stakeholder, there is absolutely no basis for all the false allegations and attempt to blame the APC National Chairman for the development there as it is a strictly legislative matter”, he said.
But former Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, on Tuesday, condemned the invasion of the National Assembly, by a team of Department of State Security (DSS).
Ihedioha warned that Nigeria is too big for any individual or group to hold to ransom.
He said”, The legislature is the fulcrum of democratic practice, consequently, the assault on the People’s House, an institution that symbolizes our democracy and has indeed entrenched its culture, is to say the least, a failed coup, abuse of power and indeed smacks of dictatorship.”
Meanwhile, the Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures in Nigeria, Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, has commended the acting President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, for his prompt action on the invasion of the National Assembly by the men of the DSS on Tuesday.
The leader of the State legislatures in the country described Osinbajo’s action as very timely and has not only succeeded in cooling the already heated polity but has also earned President Muhammadu Buhari APC-led administration credibility at home and abroad.
The Lagos chief law maker condemned the invasion, describing it as a desecration on the sanctity of the Parliament.
“The action of the DSS is condemnable because it’s a deseceration on the sanctity of the Parliament. But the acting President has restored the pride of the Parliament through his timely action,” Obasa said.
The newly elected chairman of the Speakers Conference reiterated further that he and his colleagues had warned in the communique issued at the end of the just concluded quarterly conference of of State Assembly Speakers in Nigeria which ended in Lagos at the weekend that the Nigeria Police
and in essence other security agencies should be more professional and apolitical in the discharge of their constitutional responsibilities by desisting from invading and occupying legislative Houses in the country.
Atiku reacts, commends Osinbajo
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has in his reaction, commended Osinbajo for listening to the clarion call of Nigerians and taking action to halt what he described as “the illegal and anti-democratic” siege of the National Assembly by men of the DSS.
Abubakar noted that by firing the Director General of the DSS, Mr. Lawal Daura, the Acting President has given meaning to the cries of Nigerians that “we will not tolerate such anti democratic actions.”
The former Vice President gave his utmost support to the Presidency’s action and called on all statesmen and political leaders to put aside partisanship and rally round the acting President during “these fragile times for our democracy.”
The former vice president also called for an independent judicial panel of inquiry, to investigate Tuesday’s incidence at the National Assembly to get to the root of the matter so that those responsible can be identified and punished.
“These are delicate times for Nigeria and all lovers of democracy and the rule of law must be extra watchful lest anti-democratic forces take advantage of all we have worked hard to build,” he stated.
