Last week was an array of political brouhaha ranging from the various defections of lawmakers and governors from the ruling party to the opposition party but amidst all, the siege on the National Assembly cannot be Jettisoned as Masked Armed Personnel of the Department of State Services (DSS) barricaded the entrance thereby restricting lawmakers and staffs of the National Assembly from gaining access into the complex.
Recall that in April, the security details of the National Assembly were compromised and some hoodlums invaded the hallowed chamber of the senate, stole the mace which was an emblem of authority.
There were assertions that the besiegement of the parliament by the masked DSS Personnel was an attempt to avert another invasion due to intelligence report but on a contrary, it was tantamount to coup against Nigeria’s Democracy bearing in mind that recently, there has been intense criticism concerning the DSS involvement in some political activities from being illegally deployed to the Nigeria Football Federation’s office Abuja to eject the President, Chris Giwa out of office and to also being used to orchestrate the planned impeachment of Benue State Governor on the basis of “Orders from above”.
However, the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, swiftly terminated the appointment of the DSS Director General, Lawal Daura; and the DSS personnel at the National Assembly retreated afterwards.
The acting President in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Laolu Akande, described the unauthorized takeover of the National Assembly complex as a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order.
According to him, the unlawful act which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency is condemnable and completely unacceptable.
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By this statement, Professor Osinbajo assured Nigerians that all persons within the law enforcement apparatus who participated in this travesty will be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.
The Prompt action taken by the Acting President in intervening in the siege of the National Assembly has generated a lot of remarks thereby regarding him as a true democrat and leader.
Nevertheless, the sack of the DG DSS has also generated a lot of controversies asking if the Acting President has the powers to fire Daura.
However, some analysts saw it as insubordination on his part making claims that the acting president carried out this orders without proper clearance from the president himself.
Prior to that, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina disclosed that the actions taken by the acting president in sacking the DG DSS shows that there’s unanimity in the government and it confirms the full transition of power by President Buhari to his deputy before proceeding on his vacation.
It should be noted that the Acting president will always maintain conscious correspondence with the President over the matters of the Nation after all the Buhari led administration is all about change agenda and it is subject to the duo.
Meanwhile, it is very important to note that the head can never stand alone; neither can the body making it clear that Prof Osinbajo could not have carried out these orders without the consent of the president.
Recall that days before President Buhari embarked on his 10-day vacation, he wrote the National Assembly and categorically informed them as he is expected to do constitutionally, that Vice President Osinbajo will assume the role of Acting President and as an Acting President, he has all the powers of the President, hence he can hire and fire as much as the President can.
The provisions of Section 145 of the 1999 Constitution makes this clear when it says the Vice President as Acting President shall discharge all the functions of the President.
Aside from the constitution, the undoubted loyalty of Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is second to none, which means his decision is after liaising with President Buhari, his Boss, because of the synergy between them.
Even the Emir of Daura, HRH, Alhaji Farouk Umar Farouk, attested to the loyalty of Prof Yemi Osinbajo during the courtesy visit to his palace, in his remarks he said “We are happy with you and we are particularly proud of the way you have supported our son, President Muhammadu Buhari in leading our country Nigeria to prosperity and that explains why loyalty and trustworthiness among political class is being talked about, you stand as an example worthy of note. I wish that you carry on with this level of trustworthiness and continue to uphold the confidence that our son has in you”.
You would admit that the duo, President Buhari and Prof. Osinbajo always work together on everything, hence it would be fair to conclude that the Vice President consulted with him before taking this key decision that many Nigerians are applauding.
It would also be fair to shower the accolades on the duo rather than limiting it to one because what’s good for the goose is also good for the gander and a neck cannot function properly without the head.
The sack of the DG DSS is clearly a strong indication that the rule of law remains sacrosanct in Nigeria, the Buhari-led administration is proactive in its fight against corruption and bad leadership hence no stone will be left unturned.
Ayo is a Lagos-based journalist and public commentator
