Niyi
Odebode, John Alechenu, John Ameh, Olusola Fabiyi, Olalekan Adetayo, John
Charles and Theophilus Onojeghen
The Acting
President, Yemi Osinbajo, on Tuesday sacked the Director-General of the
Department of State Services, Lawal Daura.
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A top
government official confirmed to our correspondent on condition of anonymity
that Daura was “handed over to law enforcement agents” immediately after his
appointment was terminated.
The former
DSS boss was in the Presidential Villa when his removal was announced.
“Yes, he was
immediately handed over to law enforcement agencies. You know that for somebody
that held such an office, he needed to be debriefed and all that,” the source
said.
Another
source confirmed that Daura was driven out of the premises in a Hilux van
belonging to the Nigeria Police Force.
Our
correspondent reports that reporters who laid ambush outside for him saw his
convoy leaving the premises without him.
It was
gathered that the VP was highly embarrassed by the invasion.
The sack
letter it was gathered was prepared even before Daura arrived. It was handed
over to him by Osinbajo’s aides, as the VP refused to meet with him.
It was also
gathered that President Muhammadu Buhari had been complaining of Daura’s antics
and would have removed him about two weeks ago but was stopped by some of his
aides.
The sack of
the DSS boss followed early Tuesday morning siege to the National Assembly by
armed and masked operatives of the department.
Osinbajo’s
Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Mr Laolu Akande, announced the
firing of Daura in a statement made available to journalists.
He said the
Acting President had directed Daura to hand over to the most senior officer in
the service.
The statement
reads, “The Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has directed the
termination of the appointment of the Director-General, Department of State
Services, Lawal Musa Daura, with immediate effect.
“Mr Daura
has been directed to hand over to the most senior officer of the State Security
Service until further notice.”
The siege by
the DSS, which began as early as 6am caught most employees of the National
Assembly unawares as cleaners, bankers, reporters and others who had business
to transact within the complex were prevented from entering the premises.
The security
officials used an unmarked white Coaster bus and two black Hilux pickups to
block the main gate leading to the National Assembly.
Not long
after, Senators Abiodun Olujimi (PDP, Ekiti,) Ben Murray Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa)
and Rafiu Ibrahim (PDP, Kwara) arrived at the scene. They approached the gate
but the masked DSS officers also prevented them from entering.
Few minutes
later, a female member of the House of Representatives, Boma Goodhead (PDP,
Rivers) arrived and insisted on entering the premises.
When the
armed men stood in her way, she approached the operatives menacingly 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 at 8am. She was soon
followed by some legislators but the DSS operatives prevented members of the
National Assembly staff and journalists from entering.
In the
statement that announced the sacking of Daura, Osinbajo was also quoted as
describing the action of the security operatives as a gross violation of
constitutional order, stressing that the development was not authorised by the
Presidency.
He declared
that all persons who participated in the siege would be identified and made to
face appropriate disciplinary action.
The
statement reads further, “Acting President Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, has described
the unauthorised takeover of the National Assembly complex earlier today as a
gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions
of law and order.
“According
to him, the unlawful act which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency
is condemnable and completely unacceptable.
“By this
statement, Prof. Osinbajo is consequently assuring Nigerians that all persons
within the law enforcement apparatus who participated in this travesty will be
identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.”
Following
the removal of Daura, the Vice-President, also on Tuesday, met behind closed
doors with the most senior Director in the DSS, Matthew Seiyefa.
The meeting
was held inside Osinbajo’s office at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Osinbajo
had, while terminating the appointment of Lawal Daura as the Director-General
of the DSS, asked him to hand over to the most senior official in the agency.
Seiyefa,
from Bayelsa State, arrived at the Presidential Villa in an official Sports
Utility Vehicle at about 4pm.
He was seen
clutching an office file as he made his way into Osinbajo’s office.
Shortly
after his arrival, the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes
Commission, Ibrahim Magu, also arrived.
Magu,
however, left before Seiyefa.
He left at
about 4.40pm without talking to State House correspondents.
Siege
scuttles National Assembly leaders meeting
The blockade
led to the abrupt cancellation of the meeting of principal officers of the
National Assembly scheduled for Tuesday.
The Deputy Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Mr Yusuf Lasun, announced the cancellation in
an interview with journalists outside the National Assembly.
He explained
that the meeting was no longer feasible with the tense atmosphere at the
National Assembly.
Lasun said,
“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 arrived at the National Assembly a few minutes to 12pm; the time fixed
for the meeting and met the DSS officers at the National Assembly gate.
They allowed
him and his convoy drive into the building but he soon drove out after a brief
meeting with members of the House of Representatives and senators who earlier
entered the premises.
He told
reporters that although his aides had informed him about the siege, he chose to
come for the meeting but soon realized that it was no longer feasible.
The deputy
speaker also said he was in touch with the President of the Senate, Bukola
Saraki, his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu; and the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, among others.
It’s a coup
against democracy – Saraki, Dogara
The
President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Yakubu Dogara, have released a joint statement in which they described the
invasion of the National Assembly by security officials as a “coup against
democracy.”
Saraki and
Dogara condemned the invasion of the sanctity of the legislature and the
harassment of staff and legislators by officials of the DSS as another attempt
to subvert democracy.
They noted
that the heavy presence of armed security men who unnecessarily militarized the
legislative complex and harassed legislators and the workers in the complex
could not be justified in a democracy.
The
statement reads, “By 6.30 am, the reports started coming in and by 7am, there
were pictures and videos online showing armed security men preventing senators
and honourable members from coming into the complex.
“Some of our
colleagues then mobilised other members in both chambers from their respective
abodes so that they could pressurise the security men from allowing them to
gain entry.
“Obviously,
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 added,
“Still the lawmakers were not allowed to drive in, in their vehicles and were
denied access into the main building housing their offices.
“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 two
presiding officers appealed to Nigerians and members of the international
community to view the development as “a coup against democracy.”
They
described what happened at the National Assembly complex on Tuesday morning as
a throw-back to the inglorious days of military rule where dissent was not
tolerated and freedom of association and other fundamental human rights were
willfully and carelessly violated.
They
expressed gratitude to senators and their counterparts in the House of
Representatives for standing up to be counted in defence of democracy and the
rule of law by resisting “this coup against democracy.”
Senator
accuses colleagues of receiving US$1m bribe to remove Saraki
Senator
Rafiu Ibrahim (PDP, Kwara South) alleged on Tuesday that lawmakers under the
aegis of Parliamentary Support Group were given US$1m each to impeach Senate
President Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
The lawmaker
said this in an interview with reporters at the National Assembly on Tuesday.
His
allegations could however not be independently verified. None of the leading
members of the Parliamentary Support Group for Muhammadu Buhari could be
reached for comments.
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Calls to the
mobiles 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 of the time of filing this report.
Northern
leaders, CUPP, IYC, Ortom, others condemn siege
Nigerians
have condemned the blockade of the National Assembly by the DSS operatives.
The
Coalition of United Political Parties accused President Muhammadu Buhari of
being behind the invasion .
It said
there was no way the operatives of the DSS and policemen would have carried out
such an action without the backing of the President.
CUPP is a
coalition of 39 political parties and associations, which was formed to oust
Buhari in the 2019 presidential election.
It alleged
that the President deliberately left Abuja for London to pretend that he was
not in the country while the illegal actions were carried out.
CUPP said in
a statement by its spokesman, Mr Ikenga Ugochiyere, that the action of the
security agencies was a continuation of the series of desperation and what he
called a show of shame by the Buhari-led Federal Government to “violently,
unlawfully and undemocratically take over the leadership of the National Assembly,
a plot it failed to achieve on the democratic turf.”
He said,
“Yet again the coupists and enemies of democracy failed. Brave and courageous
pro-democracy senators and representatives fought their way through the evil
and anti-democratic barricades at the risk of their lives and ensured that our
precious democracy is safeguarded. Nigerians are grateful to them.
“The CUPP is
aware that the plotters shamelessly accepted to execute this brief in the
absence of President Muhammadu Buhari so as to afford the President the needed
alibi that he did not have a hand in the undemocratic events of today.
“We have
seen through his façade of pontificating to love democracy while plotting to
cross democratic red lines. Nigerians are indeed grossly disappointed.
Ugochiyere
called on the international community to beam their searchlight on the events
happening in Nigeria “before President Buhari plunges Nigeria into crisis in
particular and the world into the worst humanitarian crisis of all time.”
He added,
“President Buhari is now very desperate. He is baring all his despotic and
tyrannical credentials.
“He has put
the 2019 general elections in jeopardy and the totality of all his actions is
to see that elections do not hold as that is the only way he can keep a hold on
power.
“Nigerians
shall continue to be vigilant to chase out a failed President before he
eventually turns Nigeria into a failed state.”
While
welcoming the sack of Daura, Ugochiyere called on the government to also sack
the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris.
“We are
waiting to see that the Acting President also sacks the Inspector-General of
Nigeria Police to help restore the confidence of Nigerians in our democratic
institutions that men like the former DG SSS nearly rubbished,” he added.
Similarly,
northern leaders under the aegis of Northern Leaders and Stakeholders condemned
the invasion.
It said it
was regrettable that the trampling on Nigeria’s democratic values was
perpetrated by the Buhari-led APC Federal Government.
A statement
issued by the Secretary of the body, Dr Umar Ardo, in Abuja on Tuesday, said the invasion was the “worst form of
impunity our country has witnessed in recent history,” adding that “destructive
act against our democracy can only be surpassed by a full blown military coup
d’état.”
He added,
“Nigeria’s democracy was restored and nurtured since 1999 on the sweat and
blood of patriots after it was toppled by General Buhari himself in 1983.
“Nigerians
cannot therefore sit back and watch all that have been built for nearly two
decades destroyed again by headless power mongers on account of their
insatiable selfish interests.
“NLSA
condemns this act in its totality and calls upon the NASS leadership to as a
matter of urgency reconvene the Assembly and summon the leadership of the
executive to explain this brazen act by the security services and apply
disciplinary action where necessary as provided for by the constitution.
“NLSA also
calls upon all Nigerians, especially northerners, to stand up against this tyranny
and condemn it without reservation and defend our democracy and our
constitution. Enough is enough.”
In his
reaction, the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom, also condemned the blockade.
Ortom in a
statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase, lamented that the
action of the security operatives had made the country a laughing stock.
He stated,
“I condemn police invasion of the National Assembly and urge patriotic
Nigerians to reject this impunity which is an assault on our democracy. We
cannot afford to remain the laughing stock of the world.”
Ortom said
that a similar breach of democratic norms was happening in the Benue State
House of Assembly and stated that if it
was tolerated at the highest level, the impunity would spread across the
country.
He recalled
that the Presidency denied any role in the Benue saga and did not punish people
responsible for the invasion of the state Assembly.
Condemning
the action, the Ijaw Youth Council warned against attempts by the Presidency
and desperate politicians in the country to truncate the nation’s democracy.
IYC, an
umbrella body for Ijaw youths worldwide, described the invasion as disgraceful.
The group in a statement signed by its President, Eric Omare, called on Buhari and the international community to
save the country from the hands of politicians who were bent on destroying
democracy in the country.
Daura
sacrificed as fall guy – Ben Bruce
Some members
of the National Assembly have described the sacking of Daura as a victory for democracy.
Senator Ben
Bruce said though it would appear that Daura was sacrificed as the “fall guy”
for the failed plan of the APC-led Federal Government to remove the Senate
President, Bukola Saraki, it was still worth celebrating.
He spoke
further, “I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to fire all the ‘coup’ plotters
for doing a shoddy job.
“This was a
monumental failure and the worst coup ever planned in the whole of my life.
“Well, if
they wanted to use a scapegoat (sacking of the DG, DSS), it turned out well,”
he said.
On his part,
Senator Dino Melaye vowed that lawmakers would continue to oppose the planned
leadership change.
“If they
plan 10 times, it will fail 10 times.
“We will
come tomorrow again and we will continue to come to the National Assembly.”
Dogara hails
lawmakers
The Speaker
of the House of Representatives, Mr Yakubu Dogara, has hailed members of the
National Assembly for resisting the invasion.
Dogara, who
arrived at the National Assembly premises about 5.08pm on Tuesday, said it
would take courageous citizens to defend democracy.
Commenting
on the siege and the resilience of lawmakers, who guarded the National
Assembly, the speaker said, “Democracy is always defended by courageous people.
In any society where you run into the absence of courageous people, democracy
dies and then sycophancy is enthroned, and with sycophancy, you cannot have
democracy.
“What we
have done therefore is service to our democracy and forever this day will go
into history as one of those days our democracy faced serious trials and that
true men and women of courage were able to ensure that it survived.
“You should
be vigilant as it is said by so many philosophers that vigilance is the
condition upon which God gives man liberty.
“I want to
thank God also for most of you who sacrificed everything to come out here on
account of the threat this institution was facing, to defend this institution
which is the number one institution of any democracy.”
APC, police
deny involvement
The All
Progressives Congress has dissociated itself from the invasion of the National
Assembly.
In a
statement signed by its Acting National Publicity Secretary, Yekini Nabena, in
Abuja on Tuesday, the APC said what happened at the National Assembly was
purely a “legislative matter.”
The
statement reads, “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, Mr 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. It is strictly a legislative matter.”
Similarly,
the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, on Tuesday said his men were
not involved in the early morning invasion of the National Assembly by security
agents.
Idris made
the denial in an interview with State House correspondents at the Presidential
Villa, Abuja.
The police
boss and Lawal Daura had met the Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, shortly
before Osinbajo relieved Daura of his appointment as the director-general of
the Department of State Services.
Asked what
his opinion was about the siege, the IGP said, “I have not received the
detailed picture of the event. When I have a detailed picture, we will make a
release about it.”
On whether
policemen were involved, he said, “Policemen were not involved.”
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