A
coalition of various Civil Society Organisations under the aegis of Citizens
United for Peace and Stability, on Tuesday, stormed the premises of the
National Assembly, demanding the immediate resignation of embattled Senate
President Bukola Saraki.
The
activities of the protesters numbering over 200 caused a serious gridlock as
they forced the security operatives of the federal parliament to close the main
gate from about noon till the time of filing this report.
The
protesters, who arrived at the National Assembly complex with mats and foams,
sat on the floor outside the main gate, chanting solidarity songs, not minding
the scorching sun.
The
protesters said their action underscored the seriousness of their mission as
they had mobilised generators, cooking utensils and mobile toilets to the
National Assembly.
The
anti-Saraki agitators pledged to occupy the complex until their demands were
met, vowing to ensure that the situation persisted till Thursday (tomorrow).
They
insisted that Saraki should vacate his seat over the myriad of corruption cases
preferred against him, which had necessitated his ongoing trial at the Code of
Conduct Tribunal for alleged false and anticipated asset declaration when he
was the governor of Kwara State between 2007 and 2015.
The
protesters, including physically-challenged persons, also condemned the
purchase of exotic jeeps for the senators at exorbitant price and asked them to
return the vehicles.
The
protesters marched from the Unity Fountain within the Central Area of the city
to the National Assembly, a journey of about two kilometres and forced their
way to the main gate, defying all security networks mounted by regular and riot
police officers.
Some
of the placards carried by the protesters read, “Revolution will not be
televised. Keep yourself informed. Occupy Nigeria”; “Why we must occupy
N’Assembly from April 26 to 28” and “Federal lawmakers working against
Nigerians.”
Trouble
started when the protesters forced the security operatives as well as the
sergeant-at-arms to close the main gate, thereby preventing staff members,
lawmakers and visitors from either entering or leaving the premises.
The
development forced the visitors to abandon their mission to the National Assembly
and return home while the members of staff, lawmakers and legislative aides had
to access the complex through either the Villa gate or the gate of the
Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
Addressing
journalists on behalf of his fellow protesters, one of their leaders, Mr.
Sadeeq Jidda, said the Senate President must resign because his integrity had
been called to question with his ongoing corruption charges.
He
stated, “We are here for a peaceful protest. We are not fighting anybody; we
will sleep here today until our demands are met. Our interest is to see real
legislative activities in action.
Lawmakers are not expected to be contractors,
they should face lawmaking.”
Reacting
on behalf of his colleagues, Senate Leader, Ali Ndume, said the protesters by
their action, were laying a bad precedent, urging Nigerians to condemn their
action.
Ndume
added that no form of protest could force anybody in the federal parliament to
resign his position, arguing that the protesters were not the people who elected
them in the first instance.
He
explained that the call for the return of the vehicles was not necessary
because the vehicles were meant for the senators to carry out their various
committee’s works, noting that the jeeps remained the property of the National
Assembly.
Ndume
stated, “For instance, I contested to be senator of Borno South; I did not
force myself on my people and therefore somebody out there, especially the one
who did not elect me, cannot force me out because I didn’t come in by force.
“So
if for example, I am short on performance and my constituents feel that they
don’t have the time to waste, there is a clear cut process, that is, collect
signatures and ask for me to be recalled.”
Meanwhile,
another group, under the aegis of Save Nigeria Group, led by one Solomon Adodo,
also staged a peaceful protest to the National Assembly on Tuesday, condemning
the call for the resignation of the senate president.
Adodo,
who is not a known leader of the SNG, maintained that the current prosecution
of Saraki was an attempt to emasculate the red chamber.
He
said the group believed the development would destroy the image of the red
chamber on the long run.
Tags
Politics