Senate Invasion: Groups Want Tight Security At NASS

Some Abuja-based Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) yesterday called for adequate security at the National Assembly.
The NGOs in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, said this would forestall a reoccurance of Wednesday’s snatching of mace at the NASS.
The Director, Christian Empowerment Forum (CEF), Mr Ifunnaya Ogbonna described the incident as “an act of cowardice by some collaborators seeking attention from the assembly.”
Ogbonna said the act had shown that there were serious security laps at the National Assembly, calling for proper investigation into the matter.
“The intrusion is just a stage act to get the attention of the leadership of the National Assembly; it was staged to disrupt the plenary.
“It is cowardly for anyone to think that the only way to get attention is to create chaos,” he said.
The Coordinator, Anvil Singles Network, Mr Abraham Omoruan supported Ogbonna’s claim, saying that the intrusion was a conspiracy to truncate the nation’s democracy.
Omoruan described the incident as an embarrassment to the nation.
“The hoodlums have made a mockery of our democracy.
“They have no regard for the nation.
“It means the country’s democracy is a joke to them, the jokers have no respect for the current leadership in the Senate.
“Their action is a humiliation to our security, if a stranger could walk in, steal a symbol of authority and make away with it through the entrance of the assembly, it means the place has a serious security problem,” he said.
Omoruan said that the public deserved explanation and that questions needed to be asked about the security at the assembly.
“We need to know why nobody could stop the vehicle that was seen waiting for the hoodlums who made away with the mace,” he said.
Omoruan said the action was an attack on the nation’s democracy that should not be left to die even after the mace had been recovered.
He said it was a complete humiliation at a critical time when the country was set to record a significant milestone in its democracy.
Omoruan said “the invasion has painted the Nigerian legislatures in a bad light in the eyes of other countries.”