Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, Wednesday, condemned the invasion of the Senate chamber by hoodlums and the carting away of the Mace, the symbol of authority of the Senate President.
Reacting to the incident in Abuja, Mr. Atiku described the attack as a dangerous precedent and an assault on Nigeria’s democracy by anti-democratic elements.
“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,” the former vice president said.
Mr, Atiku said given the tension in the country, the timing of the attack could not have come at a worse time for Nigeria.
He argued that using illegal and unconstitutional methods to threaten the authority of a key democratic institution is unacceptable, evil, and condemnable.
The former vice president noted that it is inconceivable that hoodlums could force their way into the Senate chamber and take away the Mace.
“If criminals could commit such security breach with impunity, it means that our entire democracy is in danger”, Atiku said and warned “those behind this illegality to avoid creating a monster that could consume them.
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“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,” he added.
Mr. Atiku reminded Nigerians that so many people have died in order to enthrone democracy in the country and called for an immediate investigation into the incident and the prompt prosecution of those involved.
While likening democratic institutions to the human body said, “if one organ is harmed, it affects others.”
He urged those pushing the county’s political temperature to dangerous levels to desist from it as they are playing a Russian roulette with Nigeria’s hard-earned democracy.
The former vice president, however, called for unity calm and an end to the culture of political disunity that is tearing the country apart.
Suspected thugs invaded the Senate during plenary and made away with the mace.
Shortly after the incident, the Senate fingered its suspended member, Ovie Omo-Agege of Delta State for being behind the crime.
Spokesperson of the upper legislature, Aliyu Abdullahi, described the action as an attempt to overthrow an arm of the government.
Mr. Abdullahi in a statement said the Senate has called on security agencies to help retrieve the mace.
“Today, some hoodlums led by suspended Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the Upper Legislative Chamber, the mace,” said Mr. Abdullahi
“This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such.
“All Security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilise their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act,” the Senate’s spokesperson said.
Senator Omo-Agege was suspended for 90 legislative days following his claim that the re-ordering of the sequence of the 2019 election by the legislature was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari.
Analysts have argued that the president would be at a disadvantage during the election if the presidential election comes last as re-arranged by the National Assembly.
