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The Coup That Failed

Nigeria’s courting of anarchy and autocratic rule continued this Tuesday with the blocking of the gates to the National Assembly by the police and hooded men of the Department of State Services, DSS.

The APC-led federal government has been trying to change the leadership of the Senate by all means, democratic or not, since 14 senators decamped from the APC to the PDP. The Senate president, Dr Bukola Saraki; the governors of Sokoto (Aminu Tambuwal), Benue (Sam Ortom) and Kwara (Abdulfatah Ahmed) have along with their supporters dumped the APC for the PDP

In a move akin to a civilian coup attempt, the security people barricaded the entrance to the National Assembly Complex as early as 7am, barred some PDP lawmakers from entering the premises, but allowed all available APC members.

The plot was for a few APC senators to sit and impeach Senate president Saraki and deputy Senate president Ike Ekweremadu, and then “elect” Godswill Akpabio, who decamped to the APC a few days ago, as Senate president.

Some PDP senators eventually found a way of entering the complex and barricaded the Senate chambers. They prevented the masked DSS operatives from having their way: to let in only APC senators.

Acting President Yemi Osinbajo has fired the DG of the DSS, Lawal Daura. But critical observers say it was not an act in defence of the constitution but to punish the DSS boss.

A reliable source told Eyeway that during a meeting with Osinbajo in the morning, Daura “badly insulted” him, and the acting president had to call President Buhari (on vacation in the UK) and said Daura should go or he Osinbajo would go. To save the APC, the president was said to have granted him permission to fire him.

The nation’s security operatives have chosen to play politics at the National Assembly but have not tackled security issues in several states of the country.

PDP presidential aspirant Atiku Abubakar issued a statement today condemning the operatives’ action, saying it was an invitation to anarchy. He said that there were better uses of the security forces at this time than to block the country’s legislature.

“Our people are languishing in the midst of unprecedented insecurity and nationwide killings. To, therefore, deploy our security forces in this present manner while Nigerians face these challenges is an abdication of responsibility, to say the least,” he said, advising all Nigerians to be watchful and mobilise to defend democracy for “eternal vigilance is the price of liberty”.

 

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