Men of the Nigerian Police early on Tuesday morning laid siege on the homes of Senate President Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu in Abuja.
The move was said to prevent the duo from making it to the National Assembly today because of a plan by many lawmakers to decamp from Nigeria ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Saraki was, however, allowed to exit his residence thinking he was going to honour the police invitation.
Saraki, appeared to the Senate chamber at about 10:40 a.m. and presided over the plenary while Ekweremadu did not make it to plenary and the siege on his home was still on as at noon.
The development attracted the venom of Nigerians across political divides who berated the Nigerian Police and the Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government for declaring war on democracy and freedom.
See some tweets;
As Buhari declares war on Democracy and Freedom ..
Sen President, Bukola Saraki under siege !
Happening now
Police blocking entrance of senate President convoyIt was Ekiti state Government Gov Ayo Fayose last week, today, it’s the National assembly leadership.
Who is next pic.twitter.com/qWg2eAHNrk
— U C H E E Z O NY E ???????? ???????? (@uche_ezeonye) July 24, 2018
Why is everyone surprised by the siege on Saraki? Buhari is and will always be a millitarian. It only took this long for his colors to show again. #DemocracyInDanger #GetYourPVC pic.twitter.com/ir8n4xE8P4
— That Ambivert (@deera_tweets) July 24, 2018
Siege on bukola saraki and Ekweremadu’s residences is unacceptable!!
Buhari needs to Go!???? our democracy is in Danger#GetYourPVC pic.twitter.com/WAoEh9yAPi— Max???? (@the_spaceprime) July 24, 2018
Buhari will not run this country aground.
I condemn in total the siege of official residence of Bukola Saraki and his Deputy, Ike Ekweremadu.
Meanwhile, 15 senators have successfully defect from the ruling APC to the PDP.
This is victory for democracy— Mr Andy (@Kany_10) July 24, 2018
If the same people sent to stop Saraki from presiding over the senate this morning are the same people tasked with keeping the people of Zamfara safe from bandits, what reasonable conclusion can we draw from this?
— tyro (@DoubleEph) July 24, 2018
You deploy a huge contingent of police who should be out protecting those truly vulnerable, to hound a single citizen because of his political threats, and yet expect an applause for being a manifesting dictator.
— Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) July 24, 2018
Anyone shocked by the presidency’s hounding of Bukola Saraki & Ike Ekweremadu clearly never heard of (or has forgotten)the Umaru Dikko Affair exactly 34 years ago this month.
Buhari ordered the kidnap of a citizen on foreign soil, so what is ordering arrest in his own backyard?
— Eromo Egbejule (@EromoEgbejule) July 24, 2018
So you hound Saraki and get people to his side by your stupidity. Now you’ve lost 14 Senators, and more will follow as they realise the potential cost of having you around for another four years…
Daft.
— Chxta (@Chxta) July 24, 2018
Saraki vs Buhari faceoff over 2019 Presidential election. IG of Police being used as a political tool. So much for integrity. Interesting times ahead. Just grab your popcorn.
— Dr. Dípò Awojide (@OgbeniDipo) July 24, 2018
How did BUHARI become a General in the Nigerian army?
It has emerged that both of them ( Saraki & Ekweremmadu) didn’t sleep in their houses. Their cars were empty. The convoy was moving without them, a decoy that successfully deceived the police.
— Kayode Ariyo (@felixkayode096) July 24, 2018
The Nigerian police has been turned into the Militia arm of Buhari and his APC hawks.
If half the resources devoted to witch hunting Bukola Saraki is used in fighting actual crimes, Nigeria will be a lot more safer than it currently is.
Bad riddance. Bad rubbish
— Kelvin Odanz (@KelvinOdanz) July 24, 2018
President Buhari spent his youthful age supporting everything against the survival of democracy in Nigeria. A leopard cannot change its spots.
The siege on the houses of Saraki and Ekweremadu by the Police/DSS will not stop the forthcoming politically Tsunami about to hit APC. pic.twitter.com/b6l97NqmxZ
— Agbo Emmanuel, MFR (@DrAgboEmmanuel) July 24, 2018
If police can block Bukola Saraki, Senate president and some people are okay with it, expecting Buhari or IGP to care about SARS arresting, robbing and harrasing ordinary citizens like you and I is a waste of time.
— AJALA (@UNCLE_AJALA) July 24, 2018
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