The All Progressives Congress (APC) has exercised a U-turn in its position on the development at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
State Security Service (SSS) operatives were joined by police officers to prevent lawmakers from accessing the parliament for several hours on Tuesday morning.
Following widespread media attention and outrage from Nigerians, as well as attempts by furious lawmakers to break into the premises, the security agents ultimately allowed access to the National Assembly. But the access was only granted to serving lawmakers. All other members of staff at the National Assembly, as well as journalists and other independent observers were denied entry.
The siege lasted until late afternoon when SSS operatives stood down after receiving reports that Acting President Yemi Osinbajo did not authorise the deployment and had fired the director-general of the secret police, Lawal Daura, as a consequence.
The APC joined other individuals, groups and even foreign diplomatic missions to condemn the attack on Tuesday night.
The party described the security agencies’ action at the time as an “unfortunate invasion” and dissociated itself from “any act of brigandage and affront on the sacred symbols of our budding democracy.”
But this morning, another statement came in from the party, which essentially contradicted its position yesterday. The party said Mr Saraki was the one who orchestrated the plot, and that security agencies only moved in to prevent any outbreak of violence.
The APC statements, the first at 6:41 p.m. on Tuesday and the second at 8:02 a.m. on Wednesday are reproduced respectively as follows:
APC Condemns National Assembly Invasion
The All Progressives Congress (APC) condemns in strongest terms, today’s unfortunate invasion of the National Assembly by security forces. Our Party wholly dissociates itself from any act of brigandage and affront on the sacred symbols of our budding democracy.
Our Party remains a law abiding political organisation and advises every constituent part to abide by the tenets of our constitution and our democracy.
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.
We call for a more harmonious working relationship between the various Arms of Government in the general interest of the country.
SIGNED:
Mr. Yekini Nabena
Ag. National Publicity Secretary
How Security Operatives Stopped Saraki’s Plan to Foment Violence over Impeachment
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.
Our investigations uncovered and noted the following:
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.
Finally, we reiterate our call for the Senate President to resign from the position immediately as he no longer has the moral and legitimate ground to occupy that position as a member of the minority PDP. Going by the popular axiom, ‘the majority will have their way, but the minority will have their say’.
SIGNED:
Mr. Yekini Nabena
Ag. National Publicity Secretary
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