A leading pro-democracy
and Non-Governmental Organization – HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA
(HURIWA) has strongly condemned the armed invasion by hoodlums of the senate
chambers and the theft of the mace.
Describing the attack as a dangerous
precedent and a deadly attack on a key institution of constitutional democracy,
the Rights group has accused the executive arm of government that controls the
security forces of collusion and conspiracy in the disgraceful episode at the
Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
HURIWA has also called for the
immediate convocation of a judicial commission of inquiry to be drawn entirely
from the Federal Judicial Service Commission and headed by a serving judge of
the Supreme Court to investigate the invasion and make recommendation on how to
safeguards the integrity and honour of the nation's constitutional democracy in
the face of the attack on a key component of the Tripod of governmental powers.
Besides, HURIWA through a
jointly issued press statement by the National Coordinator Comrade Emmanuel
Onwubiko and the National Media Affairs Director Miss Zainab Yusuf has called
for the arrest of the sponsors of the invasion and the attackers and their
prosecution for treason.
“The criminal act of
violence and depravity visited on the national assembly by armed goons
suspected to have been brought by a suspended senator Omo – Agege must not be
allowed to go unpunished. The criminal and shameful act is truly an attempt to
overthrow the legitimately constituted authority of the legislative arm of
government.”
“There is no doubt that the invasion
of the senate by the unruly mob is not just a slap on the integrity of the
legislature but has brought global opprobrium on Nigeria coupled with the
general state of insecurity and coordinated killings of innocent citizens by
armed Fulani herdsmen. We call on President Buhari to take measures to sanction
or sack all the heads of the security forces who have shown a high level of
professional incompetence because clearly, the state of insecurity has expanded
even as the attack on the senate is a further proof that the President may have
run out of useful ideas on how to protect lives and property of Nigerians.”
Also, HURIWA has asked the President
Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) and the President of the Senate Dr. Bukola
Saraki who are both outside of the shores of Nigeria at the precarious times of
breakdown of law and order to return home immediately and fix the broken
system.
“By section 4 (1) of the Nigerian
constitution, the legislature controls the legislative powers of the
federation. Any pre-meditated attack on that institution is an attack on
democracy. We as citizens of Nigeria must resolutely and collectively speak out
and take action to defend the constitutional democracy that we are enjoying.
This is because some reactionary forces embedded in the Executive arm of
government are carrying out dangerous and unconstitutional activities that may
instigate military's violent overthrow of the government. Nigerians must do
everything within our powers to stop these enemies of Nigeria from destroying
civil rule".
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