7 Outstanding Events That Happened While Buhari Was Away

President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country today after 10 days in the United Kingdom. He jetted out to the UK on Friday, 3rd August on a 10-Day working holidays.

A statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Femi Adesina had said the president’s trip was “in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution,” adding that “a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect.

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“While the President is on vacation, the Vice President will be in acting capacity as President,” the statement read.

Recall that the president embarked on the trip shortly after his party, the All Progressives Congress, APC was hit with a wave of defections.

About 50 lawmakers from the National Assembly dumped the ruling party for the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

In like manner, Benue state governor, Samuel Ortom; Kwara state governor, Abdulfatah Ahmed; Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal and Senate President Bukola Saraki announced their defection from the APC.

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Shortly after Buhari left the country and with the reins of leadership in the hands of VP Osinbajo, a series of event took place.

THE WHISTLER, in this report, highlight some of the major events that occurred while the president was away on holiday.

National Assembly Invasion

Barely four days after President Buhari left the country, the National Assembly was invaded by operatives of the Department of Security Services, DSS.

The DSS operatives prevented lawmakers, journalist and staff from entering the National Assembly.

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It was learnt that the siege was part of an alleged attempt to impeach Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.

“The front gate has been blocked by DSS and police. The plan is to allow APC senators entry. Senators who will install Akpabio as the Senate President and impeach Saraki and Ekweremadu,” PDP Senator Ben Murray Bruce had said.

It was also learnt that some senators under the ruling party had insisted that since Saraki had defected to the opposition party, he was not worthy of occupying the seat of the senate president as it should be occupied by a senator under the ruling party.

Daura’s Sack

In a swift reaction to the siege on the National Assembly, Acting President Osinbajo directed the termination of the appointment of the DSS Director General, Lawal Musa Daura with immediate effect.

He described the unauthorized takeover of the National Assembly as a gross violation of constitutional order and rule of law.

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He directed him to hand over to the most senior officer of the State Security Service until further notice.

“The unlawful act which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency is condemnable and completely unacceptable.

“By this statement, Professor Osinbajo is consequently assuring Nigerians that all persons within the law enforcement apparatus who participated in this travesty will be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action,” Osinbajo’s statement read.

Daura, was arrested and detained, minutes after the Vice President announced his sack.

Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris in an interim investigation report said “the former Director-General, Department of State Security Service, Mr Lawal Musa Daura acted unilaterally without informing the presidency. He did not share or intimate other security agencies on the unlawful operations”.

Daura has since been released from custody, but his international passport was confiscated.

However, as at the time of filing this report, it was learnt that Daura was under house arrest and is being guarded by riot policemen.

South-South Takes Over DSS

The most senior officer of the State Security Service named as the new helmsman for the secret police, Mr Mathew Seiyefa, hails from Bayelsa State.

It was learnt that Seiyefa was twice shortchanged by the Government of Yar’adua/Jonathan when he should have naturally assumed the position of the organization DG by reason of seniority and competence.

His appointment as acting DG has been lauded by Nigerians in the South South and various groups to include the NIGER Delta Professional Assembly, NDPA, amongst others.

The NDPA said Seiyefa’s appointment has put to rest “the mischievous propaganda that President Buhari only appoints Northern Muslims to head sensitive security apparatus.

“Which organization is more sensitive than the Department of State Security Service?” the group asked.

“We call on President Buhari to take a step further by making Mathew Seiyefa the substantive DG of the Department of State Security,” it added.

President Buhari’s arrival from the U.K will confirm whether or not Seiyefa will fill the shoes of Daura or not.

Akpabio’s Resignation

Shortly before the invasion, Senator Godswill Akpabio resigned his position as the Senate Minority Leader.

His resignation letter was sent to the Deputy Minority Leader, Senator Emmanuel Bwacha.

Akpabio had said, “This letter is to formally inform you of my resignation as the senate minority leader with effect from August 4, 2018.

“Let me thank the senate minority leadership, our distinguished colleagues and our great party, the PDP for the opportunity to lead the caucus in the last three years.

“Please accept the assurances of my highest esteem.”

His resignation had followed a meeting he held with President Buhari in the UK on Sunday, August 5th, and further consultations with All Progressive Congress National Leader, Bola Tinubu on Monday, August 6th, in Abuja.

Akpabio’s Defection

Akpabio, on Wednesday, August 8th, confirmed speculations of his planned defection to the APC by formally making an announcement in a mega rally held at the Ikot Ekpene township stadium.

No fewer than 30 APC’s senators and members of National Working Committee (NWC) were on hand to receive him.

The party described his defection as one that “surpasses all other defections.”

“This is a defection that has shaken the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),” senate Majority leader, Sen. Ahmed Lawan had said.

APC’s Call For Saraki’s Impeachment

The national chairman of the APC, Adams Oshiomhole called on senators elected under the party to impeach Saraki.

According to him, Saraki was frustrating the efforts of the Buhari’s administration, and has never acted in the interest of the APC before his defection to the PDP.

“The truth is that it is doubtful if the senate president has ever acted either in the National, interest or in the interest of his own political party before his defection recently.

“It is no longer a secret that as senate President, he tried to conspire with others to create a semblance of division within the ruling party having failed to truncate the convention, when they assembled a handful of people who were neither delegates nor contest for any office at the convention to purport to have formed a political party.

“There is nothing for me to add to the illegality of this action and the false foundation that Senator Saraki tried to leave than to adopt the well thought out presentation of Femi Falana,” Oshiomhole had said during a press conference.

The plot to impeach Saraki intensified, as reports had it that senators planned on removing the senate president from office as soon as the senate reconvened from its ongoing two month recess, to deliberate on the Independent National Electoral Commission’s budget for the 2019 elections.

The senate initially planned to reconvene on Tuesday, August 14th, however, in a joint statement by Saraki and speaker, House of Representatives the joint chambers postponed its meeting till a later date.

Overhaul Of SARS

Another notable event that took place in Buhari’s absence, was the overhaul of the Special Anti Robbery Squad of the Nigerian Police (SARS).

Osinbajo directed the IGP Idris to, “with immediate effect, overhaul the management and activities of SARS and ensure that any unit that will emerge from the process will be intelligence-driven and restricted to the prevention and detection of armed robbery and kidnapping, and apprehension of offenders linked to the stated offences, and nothing more.

“The Acting President has also directed the IGP to ensure that all operatives in the emerging unit conduct their operations in strict adherence to the rule of law and with due regard to International Human Rights Law and the constitutionally guaranteed rights of suspects.”

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