Though a lot has been written on the invasion that took place at the Senate wing of the National Assembly on Wednesday last week as regards stolen of the now recovered mace of the upper legislative chamber, much have not been written on how the Sergeant-at-arms within the chamber both males and females, were overrun by the invaders and injured. TAIYE ODEWALE writes.
Sudden invasion It would be recalled that the invaders, who came the very moment suspended Senator Victor Ovie Omo – Agege (APC Delta Central) forced himself into the Senate chamber, caught the National Assembly security operatives flatfooted which made their entrance into the chamber very easy with attendant feeble resistance from the Sergeant at Arms.
Little wonder that at exactly 11: 20am when the invaders, numbering about 7, stormed the chamber, the three Sergeants- at- Arms at the entrance were easily overrun to pave way for the four of the invaders, who followed Omo- Agege down to the frontage of the Senate President’s seat, where the mace was placed.
Armless defenders Though all the sergeant at arms at the chamber spontaneously attempted to resist the invaders, but the resistance put up by Mrs Sandra Davou stood out, the reason why she was violently knocked down by one of the invaders in their bid to escape. Davou despite being a female sergeant at arms, held one of the invaders by his cloth to prevent him from escaping but the muscular invader flung her away, leading her to roll on the floor and in the process, sustained serious injuries which immediately landed her at the National Assembly clinic for emergency medical attention.
When armless force gives way to loaded force Expectedly with Savou and her colleagues overrun in the chamber, the invaders also made mincemeat of other Sergeant at Arms outside the chamber, particularly Mr Segun Adeboye who in a spirited effort to prevent the invaders from running away with the mace, hurriedly closed the exit door but could only supported it with his bare hands booted away by the invaders when they got to the spot.
Though efforts made to get the reaction of the Seargent – At – Arms himself, Brigadier – General Mohammed Sani to the invasion proved abortive the very day it happened, but the obvious fact was that they were overrun for being ‘armless’ as stated by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, in his speech to Senators 24 hours after the attack.
Case for NASS Police Command “This incident has also brought to the fore the case many of us have always made for a decentralised police system. Ordinarily, a big institution like the National Assembly should have its own police, apart from the Sergeants-at-Arm.
“However, the security of this parliament is fully outside the control of the National Assembly. Instructively, the same gangterism that was witnessed here yesterday has been recorded in various State Houses of Assembly”, he said.
Solidarity visit Gratifyingly, the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki who was in the United States of America (USA) when the invasion occurred, visited the recuperating Mrs Davou two days ago in Bwari town for the needed motivation for her and other colleagues who confronted the invaders with bare hands. Saraki, who was accompanied on the visit by his Deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, Senator Isa Hamma Misau and Senator Baba Kaka Garbai, commended Mrs. Davou and her colleagues who had put up a spirited fight to prevent the invaders from gaining access to the Senate Chambers.
He also commended his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu and all his colleagues, who successfully took charge and safeguarded the National Assembly and the nation’s democracy. The visit, according to him, was meant to thank and show appreciation to Mrs Davou and her colleagues for their hard work, commitment and courage.
He said:”I was told that few of our staff were injured during the invasion of the Senate last Wednesday including Mrs. Sandra, who is very committed and hardworking. “She was taken to the hospital and discharged and we felt that for the sacrifice they made by putting their lives at stake beyond the call of duty for our democracy, we have to come and appreciate her.
“I keep on emphasizing that what really defines a democratic nation is the parliament and the moment the parliament is not there, democracy does not exist.
“So what she and her colleagues have done, are highly commendable, the reason why we are here to thank her and show that we really appreciate what she and her colleagues did”. “Last Wednesday was no doubt, a very sad day in the Senate going by the senseless invasion, which has embarrassed the country.
Invasion sad for democracy “My colleagues and I have said that the day of the unfortunate invasion was a sad day for democracy. It was a disgrace to our country at large and that such things should not be associated with our country.
We must ensure we stand firm as a country to nip all those kind of undemocratic acts that exist in the bud”. But how will the Senate and by extension the National Assembly nip in the bud, armed invaders when its security is outside its control?
