APC Retracts Stance, Alledges Senate President hatches invasion on NASS by Dss

Barely 24 hours of joining voices of criticism against the barricade of the National Assembly by State Security Service (SSS) on Tuesday, the All Progressives Congress (APC) has turnaround to justify the security agents action as an attempt to avert security breach.

Nigerians woke up to pictures and videos of masked SSS operatives and armed policemen barring lawmakers and staffs from accessing the parliamentary building for several hours.

The development sparked outrage from Nigerians who feared a change of leadership is imminent in the National Assembly. It was after several outcries that security agents were allowed access to the building but journalists and staffs of the National Assembly were denied entry.

The siege lasted until late afternoon when report filtered to security agents that Acting President Yemi Osibajo didn’t authorized the barricade and that the Director-General of SSS, Lawal Daura, has been sacked as a consequence.

Initially, APC absolved itself from involvement in the siege of the National Assembly and 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.”

However, the party contradicted its earlier position in a statement signed by Acting Spokesman, Yekini Nabena, on Wednesday, defending the security agents siege as a move to prevent possible outbreak of violence from an alleged plot by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, to mobilise thugs to the parliamentary building.

“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,” the statement read.

“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.”

Nabena called on security agencies to probe the incident and take necessary actions.

“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,” he said.

“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.”