By Hamisu Gumel
I am sure the DSS operatives who were deployed to effect the siege at the National Assembly would be
among the people to welcome the sack of their DG, Lawal Daura, by the Acting President Yomi Osinbajo, with a sense of relief and jubilatory mood. This is because from the look in their faces and the way they related with some of us at the scene of the siege (that was after the initial show of force and attempt to block the legislators from gaining access to the premises of the NASS) it is obvious they were also not happy with the job they were assigned this morning.
I was still at home when one of our office staff called to say that all entrances to the NASS were sealed off by armed, masked men in black and were telling them to go back. Knowing that the NASS principal officers’ meeting was scheduled for today, I knew it is another field day for the plotters who are egged on and backed by those who control the means of coercion and intimidation to yet again try their luck against
the Senate President and the majority pf their colleagues. Only yesterday, I was telling a sentimental anti-Saraki guy on Facebook that “you can deploy any amount of sentiment on this matter, but I tell you Saraki may never be removed, at least in a lawful way.”
When later I arrived the gates of the NASS, the siege had already been relaxed (probably due to pressure and outburst by a female legislator) and the legislators were allowed to go inside, but not with their vehicles. The NASS staff, Legislative Aides, Journalists and Civil Society activists were kept outside chanting solidarity songs and occasionally lashing out scathing remarks on the now exhausted DSS men who have been standing there since early morning.
With mounted cameras and microphones all over the place, when a Senator or member arrived, the media guys would rush to him for comment before he/she rushed inside shouting solidarity songs or labeling the Buhari government a dictatorship, fascist or military regime, to the applause of the crowd.
At a time, when a group of Senators and members arrived, I quickly joined them from behind in trying to
“smuggle” myself inside. Sporting glasses and looking straight up, I thought my somehow lanky figure could help me disguise as one of the legislators to gain entrance. One by one the legislators passed the security cordon. But when it came to my turn to enter, a suite clad DSS guy blocked my way and asked for an ID card. I showed him. He looked at me courteously and said:
“Legislative Aide…. Sorry sir, only members and Senators are allowed in. You will stay with us here for now…just for now, please. Sorry sir.”
I pitied him; he looked fatigued and tired. I moved back into the crowd and continued to watch the unfolding drama.
From time to time a Senator or Member would come out and address the press before going back into the
premises. All this while we were anxiously waiting outside the gates, with everyone taking and
transmitting pictures and words over different social media platforms. Then we heard that the plotting
senators – 13 in number – were holding a marathon meeting at the Sheraton.
At around 12.30 pm we saw the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, RT. Hon Yusuf Lasun,
leaving the NASS premises with his retinue of security men. Like others, he stopped and addressed the
press on the assault on the legislative arm of government, and among other things, he remarked that
removing a principal officer is a very difficult task.
And with this, we came to know that this plot has been defeated for now.
