The leadership of the National Assembly has vowed to resist any form of intimidation from the executives, insisting that their interference would distract them from their constitutional obligations, The Sun reports.
NASS leadership represented by Senators Solomon Olamilekan, Samuel Anyanwu and Abdufatai Buhari, confirmed their position when they addressed protesters that stormed NASS complex in Abuja on Thursday to protest what they termed “government unwarranted efforts to undermine the institution of the legislature.”
The protesters under the aegis of the Coalition in Defence of Nigerian Democracy and Constitution, besieged the National Assembly not only to support the legislators over some key decisions it had taken in recent times but to also register their grievances against alleged attempts by the executive arm of government to undermine the legislature.
Led by Mr Ariyo-Dare Atoye, the youths said they were concerned over unfolding development regarding the relationship between the executive and the legislature, adding that the protest was meant to draw the attention of the world to the continued efforts by the executive arm of government to undermine the legislature.
“We are here to inform the world that democracy is under threat in Nigeria. We have seen some very wicked, satanic and devilish attempts to destroy the National Assembly by some people who have obnoxious proposition about the need to scrap the Senate or the National Assembly.
“We are not here to defend an individual senator or the leadership of the Senate, but we to defend the institution and independence of the National Assembly.
“We will not allow the likes of Prof. Itsey Sagay and Femi Falana to misinterpret what the constitution says. These people, when the DSS invaded the residences of our judges, came out to commend the DSS and insisted that the judges invaded should step down.
“But the same DSS report indicted the Acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Ibrahim Magu but the same people started blaming the National Assembly and saying Magu must remain on his seat. Where do we go from here?,” he queried.
Meanwhile, the Senators have tasked Nigerians to believe in the legislature, saying it was firmed in its resolve to ensure Nigerians get their fair share of democratic dividends.
“Let me stand on behalf of the leadership of the National Assembly under Senator Bukola Saraki and the Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, to thank the people of this country for coming out in their number to reject executive interference in the activities of the legislature.
“We have listened to all that have been said and I want to tell you that there’s no way, and nobody can kill the legislature,” Olamilekan said.
