Dogara Tasks Buhari Over NASS Invasion

• Says, Uncover, Punish Daura’s Sponsors, He Didn’t Act On His Own
• Charge Members To Drop Party Differences In National Interest

BY VICTOR JAMES

Speaker Yakubu Dogara, of the House of Representatives on Wednesday, demanded President Muhammad Buhari, to immediately expose and punish those that sponsored Lawal Daura, the sacked Director General of the Department of State Services ( DSS), to invade and forcefully locked the National Assembly on August 7, 2018.

The Speaker, who formally brought the matter to the plenary in his address of welcome to members after the long recess of about three months, stated that it was impossible to accept that Daura, who was the same day, relieved of his job, did carry out that assault on his own, without clear instruction from certain quarters.

“Hon. Members, you are all aware that during our recess, what I will describe as the rudest assault ever, was dealt on the institution of the National Assembly on Tuesday, August 7, 2018, when masked personnel of the Department of State Services, DSS, for inexplicable reasons, invaded this complex and forcefully locked up and occupied the National Assembly.  This despicable assault was the third by security agencies working in concert with anti-democratic elements in quick succession.

“Expectedly, this last display of brute force by agencies that have constitutionally assigned responsibilities of protecting all of us, attracted national and international uproar and condemnation.

“This mindless assault on our hard won democracy was a rude reminder to all of us that our democracy is still very fragile and therefore we should never go to sleep believing  that the work of democracy is done and that progress is inevitable. We cannot but thank those vigilant NASS members who at great risks confronted these heavily armed; masked and hooded fascist agents.

“In the same vein, we must also thank  the Press, Civil Society Organisations, the generality of Nigerians and the international community for rising to the occasion as living heroes of our democracy to stave the savaging of our democratic institutions.

“In this regard, we commend the then Acting President, His Excellency, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN who swiftly took disciplinary action against some of the perpetrators of these seditious and subversive action. We call on the Executive to ensure that all other assessors, before or after the fact of this treasonable act must be quickly brought to book; as the then DG, SSS could never have acted alone. This must be the case if we hope to put an end to this kind of brinkmanship going forward”, the Speaker said.

Urging the lawmakers to drop their personal and party differences and work in the interest of the nation, Dogara said, “We must remind ourselves at all times that our loyalty in tandem with our oath of office is to the nation and not to any individual or sectional cause or interest.

“May I appeal to all of us that in whatever party we now belong, we should continue to focus on the success of the 8th Assembly, as well as the peace and good governance of Nigeria.  We must be individually and collectively committed to the successful and peaceful conduct of the 2019 elections.

“’The goal of some people who are working to enthrone tyranny and despotism is to harass, intimidate and ridicule this great institution of the people to the point that we are forced to abdicate our responsibilities and fidelity to our oath of office.

“It’s a pity that these elements know nothing about the character of this great Institution and the fact that our devotion to the rule of law far surpasses our love and admiration for any individual or group of persons.

“If this was not the case, third term would have succeeded and the motion on the doctrine of necessity would have failed. We cannot drift, in our own time, from the path of honour and courage that has been the hallmark of this hallowed Chambers. As patriots, we owe it a duty to patriotically support the patriotic even if they are our foes and to patriotically oppose or defeat the unpatriotic even if they are our best friends,”  he told the lawmakers.

He reiterated that the INEC Supplementary budget Bill must be accorded expeditious consideration, adding that the pending issue of the Electoral Act amendment Bill, ‘which was unfortunately vetoed by Mr. President,’ must also be expeditiously considered and passed.

“The new Electoral Act amendment Bill has provisions that are designed to guarantee free, fair and transparent elections in Nigeria. The amendment Bill entrenches the Smart Card Reader and electronic transmission of results among others.

“Any further attempt to frustrate the passing into law of the Bill, will be indicative of our desire not to improve on the successes of the 2015 general elections further fueling the fears that some including our international partners have about some forces who intend to manipulate the forthcoming elections by exploiting identified loopholes in the Electoral Act currently in force,” Dogara warned.

Congratulating all Honourable Members who have won their primary elections, and wishing those whose elections may still be in process, a favourable conclusion, the Speaker said,that he was aware that others were said to have lost their nominations in circumstances which remain contentious.

He therefore said, “To such, we shall do all within our powers to assist them in the various political parties to get fair opportunity. We have all made tremendous sacrifices and it is only fair that this is rewarded.

“The leadership is aware of the impunity that characterised the conduct of some primaries in which some of our members allegedly lost the ticket to contest in the next election. We have done our best to ensure internal democracy within parties but it appears Parties prefer to pander to the whims and caprices of some individuals rather than the law.”

He reminded that as they entered the last leg of their tenure, they should not lose sight of the fact that they still have much business to do, urging them not to be so absorbed by the politics of 2019 as to allow their Legislative duties to suffer.

“We must utilise the available time judiciously to serve the country and our people to the best of our ability.  Having started strong with ground breaking and record setting achievements, we will be on the wrong side of history if we fail to finish as strongly as we started. It is said that the end of a matter is better than the beginning thereof,” the Speaker added.

He praised the lawmakers for their continued support to the leadership of the House, and for their understanding in these trying times.