…As VP replaces DSS Boss, Daura with Matthew Seiyefa in acting capacity***

The National Chairman, Social Democratic Party (SDP), Chief Olu Falae on Tuesday condemned the blockade of the National Assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services, stressing that the incident was an open breach of the nation’s 1999 constitution as amended, which emphasizes separation of powers and the independence of the legislature.

Chief Falae in a statement issued by the party National Publicity Secretary, Alfa Mohammed, on Tuesday in Abuja, also described the action as a breached the nation’s constitution; just as former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar also  commended the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for sacking the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Lawal Daura,

“We are gradually being pushed to a state of anarchy due to the desperation of the government in power to force a change in the leadership of the Senate.

“This conduct amounts to assault on Democracy which we risked our lives and fought for.

“It is also a declaration by government that we can all take the law into our own hands”, Chief Falae stated, expressing satisfaction that the Federal Government had worthily dissociated itself from the blockade by sacking the Director-General of the DSS, Lawal Daura, who authorised it, without the prior knowledge of the presidency. He noted that the Acting President Yemi Osinbajo also condemned the action as a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all accepted notions of law and order.

According to him, the unlawful act which was done without the knowledge of the Presidency is condemnable and completely unacceptable.

Speaking in the same vein, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has commended the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo for sacking the Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr Lawal Daura.

Abubakar made the commendation in a statement issued by his Media Aide, Paul Ibe, on Tuesday in Abuja.

The former Vice President also commended Osinbajo for listening to the clarion call of Nigerians and taking action to halt the “illegal and anti-democratic blockage’’ of the National Assembly by operatives of the DSS.

He said by sacking Daura, the acting president had given meaning to the cries of Nigerians that they would not tolerate such anti democratic actions.

“The former Vice President gives his utmost support to this action.’’

Abubakar called on all statesmen and political leaders to put aside partisanship and rally round the acting president during “these fragile times for our democracy.’’

He, however, called for an independent judicial panel of inquiry to investigate the incident at the national assembly, adding that is necessary to get to the root of the matter so that those responsible could be identified and punished.

“These are delicate times for Nigeria and all lovers of democracy and the rule of law must be extra watchful lest anti-democratic forces take advantage of all we have worked hard to build,” Abubakar said.

The Acting President had directed the termination of the appointment of the an Acting Director-General, Matthew Seiyefa with immediate effect.

Seiyefa, who hails from Bayelsa State, was before his new appointment the most senior director in the DSS.

Mr Laolu Akande, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Acting President, confirmed the appointment to State House correspondents.

Seiyefa was also the Director, Institute of Security Studies, Abuja.

With about 34 years of experience, Seiyefa had served in different capacities, including State Director in Osun, Akwa Ibom, and Lagos states.

Seiyefa is also a member of the National Institute.

Osinbajo had earlier directed Daura to hand over to the most senior director in the agency. Mr. Seiyefa was shortly after Daura’s sack, spotted in the Presidential Villa, where he had a meeting with Osinbajo.

Although an earlier statement issued by Akande announcing Daura’s sack did not give reasons for the action, it is believed that it is connected to the blockade of the National Assembly by DSS operatives on Tuesday.

The Acting President, in the statement, condemned the action of the DSS as “a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all accepted notions of law and order’’.

He said that the unlawful act perpetrated without the knowledge of the Presidency, was condemnable, completely unacceptable and unauthorized.