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Political leaders and other Nigerians across the country have condemned the invasion of the Senate and subsequent stealing of the mace by thugs suspected to be loyal to the suspended pro-Buhari Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege.
They stressed that the invasion, yesterday, of the nation’s upper legislative chamber during plenary session posed a great danger to democracy in the country, insisting that the perpetrators must be brought to book as deterrent.
Speaking in separate interviews with BusinessDay, they said the incident may have been a planned one, while wondering how the security at the National Assembly was overpowered by three men.
According to those who spoke with our correspondent, the stealing the mace was not the solution to the current crisis in the Senate.
Bucknor Akerele, a former deputy governor of Lagos State and a chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), said it was unfortunate that Nigerians had allowed fraudulent individuals to take over the mantle of leadership in the country, adding that the invasion was rape on democracy.
Akerele charged Nigerians to elect leaders who are responsive and with manners as the 2019 general election approaches, while stating that the present administration had failed.
“The invasion is not acceptable, it is bad omen for our democracy, it is unfortunate, it shows we have a problem, that we have elected drug barons and kidnappers into offices. We have given charlatans power and Nigerians are not happy. The election is here; let them scrutinise and elect people that have the country at heart; we have to watch who we vote for because we can see all that is happening now,” Akerele said.
Reuben Fasoranti, Afenifere leader and elder statesman, said that the upper chamber would not achieve much with its present situation, while advising that dialogue was the only solution to the present crisis in the Senate.
Fasoranti, however, condemned the suspension of Ovie Omo-Agege, describing it as highhandedness. He added that the Senate would not achieve much without discipline.
“The Senate must find a way out of the current problem; they cannot achieve much with the way they are operating now. How can a mace be taken during plenary session? They cannot go on like this, they have to be disciplined. But I don’t support the suspension of the senator, it is high handedness,” Fasoranti said.
Sanni Yusuf, national chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), said the invasion was a sign that Nigerians were passionate about democracy, adding that present crops lawmakers had failed the country, while stressing that Nigerians were not happy with the performance of the upper chamber.
Yusuf condemned the suspension of Senator Omo Agege by the Senate’s leadership, stressing that the suspension was a sign that the senators were no longer allowed to express their views freely.
According to him, “It is democracy at work, it tells you how passionate Nigerians are, and how also they have resolved that the senators are not working for them; it is a way of expressing their displeasure.
“Democracy is about dividend; anything more than that is not accepted, Nigerians are not happy and they are completely disenchanted. I am not recommending such action. The senators should ask themselves if they are really representing Nigerians. The senator should not have been suspended and in democracy, he has a right to his views,” Yusuf added.
Idowu Omolegan, activist and lawyer, said the senators were only after their personal interest and had failed on their mandate. He called for the arrest of those found involved in the ugly development at the Senate, adding that it was a bad omen for the country.
Iniobong Iwok
