News reports last week quoting The United Kingdom as saying that it is “monitoring the situation and other political development in Nigeria,” following the blockage of the National Assembly by officers of the Department of State Services (DSS) is a welcome development.
The interest shown by Britain in the evolution of Nigeria’s democracy, no doubt, portends a good omen for Africa’s largest economy and democratic hub.
In a statement issued by Joe Abuku, spokesperson for the UK Embassy in Abuja, on Tuesday, the UK government said it would only support democratic process in Nigeria.
“We are aware of media reports of a situation at the National Assembly this morning.
We are closely monitoring the situation and other political developments in Nigeria.
“The United Kingdom supports a process whereby the people of Nigeria can exercise their democratic right to vote and be voted for.
We favour a free, fair, credible and peaceful process and the independence of institutions, which allow for that.” Some DSS officials on Tuesday barricaded entrance into the National Assembly.
The operatives, according to Rafiu Ibrahim, a Senator representing Kwara South senatorial district, said the order to restrict lawmakers into their offices came “from the above.” However, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo said the siege at the National Assembly was unauthorised shortly after he sacked the Director General of the DSS, Lawal Daura.
Daura is from the same Local Government Area as President Muhammadu Buhari, who was reported to have approved his (Daura) sack.
The siege on the National Assembly complex drew spontaneous reactions from the Presidency and leaders of both the Senate and House of Representatives who condemned the action, describing it as a “coup against democracy”.
The acting president ordered the immediate investigation into the invasion of the National Assembly, which he described as “a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all accepted notions of law and order.” Prof. Osinbajo said that the unlawful act, which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency, was condemnable and completely unacceptable.
In a statement by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, on Tuesday in Abuja, Osinbajo assured Nigerians that anybody involved in the act would be punished.
The statement added, “All persons within the law enforcement apparatus who participated in this travesty will be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.” Osinbajo has won praises from Nigerians and the international community, who applauded his decisive step with this singular action.
It was generally accepted by all that it was the very first bold step taken by the Presidency against heads of security agencies, and which had sent a strong signal that aberrant behaviours by anyone would no longer be tolerated under the Buhari administration.
However, the Nigeria Police Force, in its preliminary report of the investigation of the matter, has indicted the former Director-General of the DSS.
In its interim investigation report submitted to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo.
The report, signed by the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Kpotun Idris, disclosed that investigation revealed that Daura may be acting the script of some highly placed politicians to achieve selfish political goals.
The report reads, “It is crystal clear that the principal suspect, Lawal Musa Daura, may be acting the script of some highly placed politicians to achieve selfish political goals, hence his unilateral and unlawful decision to invade the National Assembly complex.” It also said that Daura, in conspiracy with officers and men of the DSS, bearing firearms, took strategic location of the complex to prevent access, without any element of crime committed or an invitation by the leadership of the National Assembly, prevented members of the National Assembly from gaining access to the complex.
It added, “Members of the National Assembly were harassed, intimidated and their lives threatened.
The Department of State Security Service personnel acted like mercenaries, hired to carry out executions.” We commend the Buhari administration for the swift reaction with which it dealt with the siege on the National Assembly by operatives of the DSS.
In fact, the immediate sack of the head of that hitherto aberrant security agency underscores the importance to which the government attaches to the legislative arm of government and the rule of law – the essence of democracy.
Nevertheless, it is apposite that members of the National Assembly, particularly the opposition, see themselves as critical stakeholders in the Nigeria project rather than antagonists of the Executive arm.
This is inevitable if Nigeria is to remain relevant in the comity of nations.
While acknowledging the interest and support of Britain in Nigeria’s political evolution as well as the country’s socio-economic development, we urge Nigeria’s former colonial masters to do more in order to deepen our democracy, which is relatively nascent.