The meeting of the leadership of the National Assembly scheduled for Tuesday afternoon has been called off as a result of the security situation at the legislative building.
The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Yussuff Lasun, told reporters that with the tense situation at the National Assembly, the meeting was no longer feasible.
“A meeting cannot be held under this kind of atmosphere.
“It is unfortunate that this is happening; because when the parliament is under siege, democracy is under siege,” Lasun stated.
Lasun arrived the National Assembly a few minutes to 12pm, the time fixed for the meeting.
Department of State Service operatives, who had locked down the National Assembly since 6am, allowed him to drive into the complex.
But, he soon drove out again after meeting briefly with the senators and members keeping vigil at the lobby of the White House.
Lasun told reporters that he came to the National Assembly to attend the meeting as earlier fixed.
He added that though his aides already informed him about the development at the complex, he still came for the meeting, immediately realised that it was no longer feasible.
Lasun also disclosed that he had been in touch with the Senate President, Bukola Saraki; Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu; and the Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara.
When asked what would have been the agenda of the meeting, he replied that he didn’t know.
When asked when the meeting would be rescheduled to hold, Lasun said he didn’t know.
On a question on who ordered the blockade of the National Assembly, he responded, “I don’t know. You should know. You, don’t you know?”
