Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has strongly condemned the recent invasion of the Lagos State House of Assembly by operatives from the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force. Atiku described the act as “utterly reprehensible” and called for a thorough investigation into the incident, which he believes threatens the core of Nigeria’s democracy.
The invasion, which took place on Monday, occurred amid a leadership crisis within the Lagos State House of Assembly. Reports suggest that the operatives were acting under instructions to enforce a leadership change in the legislature. Atiku, in a statement posted on his Facebook page, expressed his bewilderment at the actions, questioning the legitimacy of such an intervention by armed security forces in a parliamentary matter.
“This act is an attack on the sanctity of democracy,” Atiku said, condemning the actions as an infringement on the independence of the legislative body. He further described it as a “desecration” of the House and a grave affront to the people of Lagos, whose votes and democratic rights were being undermined. The former presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) expressed his shock that those who claimed to have fought for democracy would now sanction such a move, jeopardizing the hard-earned democratic gains of Nigeria.
Atiku acknowledged that leadership crises are not uncommon in a democratic system but emphasized that the involvement of armed security operatives to resolve such internal conflicts was unacceptable. He urged President Bola Tinubu to focus on addressing Nigeria’s national issues rather than interfering in the affairs of the Lagos State government.
“The purported invitation of armed security operatives for a conflict resolution in a parliament is an anathema that should be frowned upon and interrogated with all sense of urgency,” Atiku stated, stressing the need for an immediate and comprehensive investigation into the incident.
In conclusion, Atiku reiterated his call for a thorough investigation into the invasion, urging that those responsible be held accountable. He also challenged President Tinubu to prioritize national recovery and healing, urging him to stay focused on Nigeria’s broader challenges rather than becoming entangled in state-level conflicts.