Mace snatching saga

Saraki commends colleagues for defending democracy

The Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, has commended lawmakers for standing firm in defence of democracy and the rule of law in yesterday’s attack where the mace was carted away.
The thugs, who stormed the Senate chamber around 11:30 am on Wednesday were suspected to have been led by a suspended lawmaker, Ovie Omo-Agege.
The Senate accused Omo-Agege, a senator from Delta State of leading the thugs who went away with the mace in a black SUV.
Saraki, in a statement by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Yusuph Olaniyonu, also lauded the swift reaction by the leadership and members of the House of Representatives.
He commended them for demonstrating solidarity with the upper chamber, adding that it was a strong signal that enemies of democracy and those who wanted to undermine the legislature would be resisted by all parliamentarians.
Saraki spoke from Washington D.C, where he was attending the spring meeting of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund (IMF).
“I have just been informed that some hoodlums invaded the Senate chambers, forcefully took away the mace and assaulted some of our Sergeant-at-arms on chamber duties.
“I am delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding their unreasonable and shameful action and went on with the day’s proceedings as slated in the Order Paper.
“My commendation goes to my Deputy, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, other members of the leadership, my colleagues, the leadership and members of the House of Representatives for standing in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism.
“With the way the Senate has defied those seeking to undermine it, we have sent out a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this.
“I associate myself with the comments of the Deputy Senate President that we are ready to get to the roots of this assault on democracy and ensure that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice,’’ he said.

…as Senate resumes plenary with replacement

The Senate yesterday resumed plenary about an hour after thugs invaded the National Assembly to steal its symbol of authority, the mace.
The lawmakers secured a replacement mace for the session.
Theodore Orji, a lawmaker from Abia State, was speaking on the floor of the senate when the unwanted visitors broke in.
The senate immediately went into a closed-door session after which a spare mace was brought and it reconvened.
The embattled senator was suspended for 90 days after accusing his colleagues of working against the interest of President Muhammadu Buhari.
After the thugs left, the Senate went into an executive session after which it announced it was starting plenary.
The plenary was presided by Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu.
The senate spokesperson, Sabi Abdullahi, in a statement sent to Premium Times said, “The Senate has mandated the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Idris Kpotum Ibrahim and Director General of the State Security Services (SSS), Mallam Lawan Daura, to retrieve the mace stolen by the hoodlums within 24 hours.”
“At the moment, some House of Representatives members led by Deputy Speaker. Hon. Yusuf Lasun, are in the Senate chambers in solidarity visits. The session is presently live on NTA Channel 10.
“We are determined to conclude all matters slated on the Order Paper for today, even if it means us sitting until 6 pm,” the spokesperson quoted Ekweremadu as saying.

Ekweremadu, also alleged that the thugs almost kidnapped two senators in the “commotion” that arose from theft of the mace, the senate’s symbol of authority.
“They attempted kidnapping two of our senators… but we decided that we will not be intimidated by this circumstance.
“We would stand by our democracy, we would defend our democracy.”
Meanwhile, Vice-President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo and Ekweremadu, held a meeting at the presidential villa in Abuja.
The meeting took place hours after the riotous situation at the upper chamber after Omo-Agege, a senator from Delta state, led suspected thugs into the senate chamber to cart away the mace, which is the symbol of authority of the legislature.
President Buhari and Senate President, Bukola Saraki are attending officials functions abroad.
Speaking with state house correspondents at the end of the meeting, Ekweremadu said he came to update Osinbajo on what happened earlier at the senate.
“I’m sure you are aware of the senate invasion today and we have to come and brief the vice-president because the president is not in town. It is appropriate for him to know. We are in a democracy; we are all in one government,” he said.

…gives police, SSS 24-hr to recover stolen mace

The Senate has asked the Inspector-General of Police and the State Security Service (SSS) to recover its mace, forcefully removed at the chambers by hoodlums, yesterday.
The call followed a resolution by the lawmakers at the end of a closed-door session held immediately after the removal of the mace, the symbol of authority for the legislature.
The Deputy President of the Senate, Ike Ekweremadu, who announced the call on the security chiefs while presiding at plenary with another mace, said that the legislature would not be intimidated in any way.
He said that while the Upper Chamber was awaiting the “return’’ of the mace, it would continue with its legislative activities, adding that the lawmakers would not be terrified in carrying out their constitutional duties.
“This morning, we had an unusual incident at the chambers in the senate.
“At about 11.30 (am), some armed thugs invaded the Senate chambers, assaulted some of our staff and some of the media persons and forcefully took away the mace.
“They passed through the entrance and the gate and left the National Assembly with the mace. They attempted kidnapping two of our senators.
“They were eventually left, but we decided that we will not be intimidated by the circumstance. We will stand by and defend our democracy.
“We have decided to go through everything on our Order Paper for today even if it takes us till 6.00 pm. We will conclude everything here because that is what we are being paid to do.
“We are going to get to the root of this matter, and I believe that I speak the mind of all of you here if I say that security agencies must recover our mace within 24 hours.
“We are giving the Inspector-General of Police and the Department of State Security (DSS) 24 hours to recover our mace,’’ he said.
Ekweremadu decried the incident and said that it was not only an affront on the Senate, but on democracy.
He assured that the lawmakers would not be distracted, stressing that they would stand together while continuing with the assignment of representing Nigerians.
He thanked the Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, Yussuf Lasun, who led members of the chamber to the Senate in solidarity over the incident.
In his remarks, Hon Lasun assured senators of Representatives’ continued support, adding that they would not be deterred from carrying out their responsibilities.

…int’l embarrassment, reflection of thuggery –Yusuf Ali, Ilorin NBA

By Kayode Adeoti

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria(SAN), Mallam Yusuf Ola-Olu Ali as well as the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ilorin branch, Isa Manzuma have described the snatching of mace during plenary at the National Assembly an embarrassment and a confirmation that thuggery is rooted in Nigeria polity.
Yusuf Ali, in his reaction stressed that the development portrayed lack of security in the country adding that it further demonstrates thuggery among political class in the country.
“It undermines lack of security in our country. How can some people enter the chambers of the National Assembly and seize the mace which is the symbol of authority of the legislature. Without it, the legislature cannot seat. It’s a serious indictment on our security system.
“It is so sad that people still believe that hooliganism and thuggery still have a place in our politics. One will continue to wonder why some people are being used as instrument to sabotage democracy efforts and what is good in the society. Some people are still being used for destructive purposes,” Ali said.
In the same vein, the Ilorin NBA chairman, Isa described the event as an international embarrassment.
“It’s quite unfortunate this country is not growing at all. It’s International embarrassment to this country. This shows the kind of people we have in the Nigerian Senate.
“We’ve had series of challenges in the house but we have never gotten to this point. This is the peak, but it’s so sad.”
Speaking further, the NBA chairman queried; “how can anyone or group invade the Senate and seize the mace, which is the symbol of authority?
“The incident, though a disgrace to democracy, had greater implications for security.
“It means the security of this country is being threatened by the day and there is an urgent need to tackle the problem,” he said.
He described the tension created by political and security issues in the land as a time bomb adding that the effort of everyone is required to arrest the situation.

…Nigeria sliding into totalitarian state – Shehu Sanni

Senator representing Kaduna South, Shehu Sani, has described the invasion of the senate chambers as an attempted coup d’état.
Reacting to the incident, Sani said the invasion is an open and undisguised assault on our democracy and a desecration of our constitution.
“The armed invasion of the senate chambers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stands condemned. It’s treasonable and nothing but an attempted coup d etat,” Sani said in a statement on Wednesday.
“Nigeria is gradually sliding into a totalitarian state. The inferno of violence has moved from the hinterlands to the heights of constitutional authority. The armed invasion is a well-coordinated action aimed violating and incinerating the parliament.”
The senator said the senate has a duty to morally and constitutionally defend and protect the parliament to keep the stream of liberty and the rivers of justice flowing without restraints or diversion or pollution.
Omo-Agege was suspended in April for kicking against the election reordering bill.

…Buhari behind incident, says Fayose

Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, has described the invasion of the National Assembly by hoodlums and the snatching of the mace, as “shamefully embarrassing”.
Writing on his verified Twitter page, Fayose said only thugs with “presidential backing” could have audacity to carry out such act.
“Shamefully embarrassing that for the first time since 1999, the National Assembly was invaded by thugs and the Senate Symbol of Authority taken away.
“Only thugs with Presidential backing could have carried out that treasonable act & those involved must be treated like coupists,” he tweeted.
Similarly, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar described the invasion as a ‘dangerous precedent and an assault on Nigeria’s democracy by anti-democratic elements’.
Few minutes later, the mace was recovered and the hallowed chamber resumed sitting.
Reacting to the incident Atiku told newsmen in Abuja that, “I am utterly embarrassed, shocked and outraged by this ugly development because it is not only a threat to a major democratic institution, but also represents a grave danger to the survival of our democracy.
”If criminals could commit such security breach with impunity, it means that our entire democracy is in danger.
“It is unacceptable and reprehensible to subject the National Assembly to this intimidation and humiliation.
”This attack by thugs should not go unpunished no matter who is involved.”
In the same vein, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) condemned the action describing it as an attack on our democracy and a desecration of the hallowed institution of the National Assembly.

…thugs identified, arrested

The thugs who invaded the Senate earlier today and stole its mace have been identified.
The five suspects were said to have been arrested by the FCT police command after they brazenly broke into the chambers of the National Assembly and forcefully escaped with the mace, the symbol of authority of the nation’s legislature.
The thugs, all from Delta State are; Peter Orede – Warri South LGA, Blessing Edjeke from Abraka In Ethiope East LGA, Tuoyo Mabiaku – Warri North Local Government Area, Lucky Okomu from Oghara in Ethiope West LGA and Prince Enayemo – Ughelli South LGA.

…Omo-Agege not arrested, Police say

Contrary to reports that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege was arrested after allegedly leading thugs into the Senate chambers to snatch the mace, the Police said the lawmaker was merely escorted out of the National Assembly complex.
lawmakers watch as thugs invade Senate, steal mace
The Federal Capital Territory Commissioner of Police, Sadiq Bello; and some other police officers had taken Omo-Agege out of the NASS complex inside a black Toyota Hilux pick-up following the melee that ensued after the theft of the mace on Wednesday.
The embattled senator later came back to attend the Senate plenary few minutes after he was escorted out of the NASS premises.
A senior police officer confirmed that Omo-Agege was not arrested, adding that he was simply taken away from the NASS premises for security reasons.
“Was he (Omo-Agege) arrested? He was only taken out of the premises for security reasons, he wasn’t arrested or detained,” the senior officer stated.
When asked if the Police would investigate the lawmaker as directed by the Senate leadership, the source declined comment and referred all inquiries to the FCT Police spokesman, Anjuguri Manzah.
Manzah did not, however, respond to phone calls. He had yet to reply an SMS as of the time of filing this report.
The CP also refused to comment when asked if the Police Command would investigate the senator for allegedly leading thugs to forcefully take the symbol of authority of the Senate.
“I don’t know anything; please ask the PPRO,” Bello said on the phone and hung up.