The Senate President Senator Bukola Saraki has reacted to the surprise invasion of the National Assembly by some unidentified men numbering about five, and carting away with the Senate’s Mace. The Senate President who is in the United State for an official engagement, has praised his colleagues from both the Senate and House Of Representatives for standing firm in the face of danger and continuing with legislative matters after the incident, saying no matter how hard distractors would try, the Senate will not be deterred as they are ready to defend democracy and their constitutional mandate as stated by law.
The Senate President who is in Washington where he is attending the Spring Meeting of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund, in a series of tweets condemned the act saying:
“I have just been informed that some hoodlums invaded the Senate chambers, forcefully taken away the mace and assaulted some of our Sergeant-at-arms on chamber duties. I am delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding their unreasonable and shameful action and went on with the day’s proceedings as slated in the Order Paper.
“My commendation goes to my deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, other members of the leadership, my colleagues, the leadership and members of the House of Representives for standing in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism.
“With the way the Senate has defied those seeking to undermine it, we have sent out a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this.
“I associate myself with the comments of the Deputy Senate President that we are ready to get to the roots of this assault on democracy and ensure that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice”