“I never thought I would see the day when I would be forced to go over the assembly gates where I work to gain access into the chambers. But then our democracy has to be saved.”
These were the words of the Minority Leader of Nigeria’s House of Representatives and the Caucus leader of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila.
In a statement by his research and media assistant, Wasiu Olanrewaju-Smart, Gbajabiamila said: “What happened in the National Assembly will forever live in infamy, expressing sadness over events that led him and other members into scaling the National Assembly gate to gain entrance into their duty post.
The lawmaker expressed surprise that the Presidency through its agents could undermine a court injunction restraining them from acting against the Speaker, “it was pretty clear the presidency in spite of a court injunction wanted to do something sinister and illegal.
“They perfected the plot to stop the Speaker and the opposition leader from gaining entry. My members were already in chambers waiting for me to come in so as to provide leadership and direction. Most of them had gone over the fate too. I had to do the needful to save our democracy. We thank God we foiled their evil machinations. We will continue to be vigilant.”
The police and other security agencies on Thursday, blocked Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, and many other APC lawmakers from entering the National Assembly complex while their counterparts in the PDP had easy access to the legislative building.
The House was reconvened by the Speaker to deliberate on a letter from President Goodluck Jonathan requesting for approval of the House to extend state of emergency in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa. [myad]
