Audu/Faleke Group Condemns Soldiers’ Invasion of Kogi Assembly
Yekini Jimoh in Lokoja
The Audu/Faleke Political Organisation has described the invasion of the Kogi State House of Assembly premises by heavily armed soldiers under the guise of providing security cover for the G5 lawmakers as an unfortunate and shameful affront on the constitution of the country.
Heavily armed soldiers were reported to have escorted the G5 legislators from government house in Lokoja to the House of Assembly, barricaded the gates to the assembly and threatened to shoot anyone that moved near the gates including the G15 members and even the police contingent deployed to maintain security in the area.
In a statement released yesterday by the spokes person of the organisation, Hon Duro Meseko, which was made available to THISDAY, it said the action of the soldiers was a direct affront on the rule of law and the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“What is happening to our state? Are we back to the Hobessian state where everything is nasty and brutish? How can soldiers paid with taxpayers fund turn themselves to pawns in the hands of political merchants? How can the soldiers disregard a competent order of the Federal High Court in Abuja that restored the G15 back to the leadership of the Kogi Assembly? Why would the soldiers threaten to shoot members of the G15 lawmakers including policemen attached to the assembly? The Chief of Army Staff must investigate this show of shame and bring culprits to book without delay.”
The group expressed concern with the level of impunity going on in the state at all levels and the attendant deafening silence of the federal government.
“Are we saying there is a different type of constitution guiding the affairs of the Governor Yahaya Bello government in Kogi State? Are we saying the rule of law has no space under his administration? For how long are we going to reel under the jackboot of local dictatorship?
“The time has come for well meaning Nigerians to rise up to the brazen attack on the laws of the land by Yahaya Bello led government in Kogi State,” the statement concluded.
