All Actors
August 7, 2018
Press Statement
NASS Invasion: Sack Of DG SSS A Subterfuge – PDP…Demands Prosecution Of All Actors
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) says Acting President Yemi Osinbajo
should shed the idea of using the sacked Director General (DG) of the
Directorate of Security, Lawan Daura as ‘the fall guy’ for Tuesday’s
invasion of the National Assembly by security forces.
The party insists that the invasion by the DSS and Police was with the
absolute knowledge and approval of President Muhammadu Buhari, Vice
President Osinbajo, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), adding that
Daura’s sack was an afterthought, diversionary and deceitful.
The PDP recalls that it issued series of statements at the weekend
alerting Nigerians to the plots against the National Assembly and
democracy ahead of President Buhari’s overseas trip noting that the
Presidency was silent on all the alarms raised by the Buhari Presidency.
If anything, they urged the Senators and Members to remain steadied in
their grave plan to ridicule our bastion of democracy, the National
Assembly.
The Presidency’s sack of Daura was 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 action of security agents that blocked the National Assembly is
treasonable and must attract appropriate sanctions under our law. It is
not enough to take populist approach of easing Daura out of office. Our
party demands an immediate investigation by an independent panel of
inquiry headed by a retired Chief Justice of Nigeria to examine the
remote and immediate cause of the invasion.
Moreover, Section 16 of the Legislative House (Powers and Privileges)
Act, 2017, provides that any person, who by any act, obstructs members
of the National Assembly from performing their legislative duties, is
liable and punishable by imprisonment.
Furthermore, Nigerians observed that the invasion was not only by the
DSS, but also had the involvement of the Police, whose high command has
not received any sanction or reprimand by the Presidency for its serial
acts of impunity.
Finally, we commend PDP federal lawmakers, Nigerians, the media as well
as the international community who rose in defence of our democracy,
even as we remind all not to let down their guards.
Signed:
Kola Ologbondiyan
National Publicity Secretary
