Many believe that the Number 2 man in Nigerian government, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, has no executive powers. They see him as a toothless bulldog that may bark but cannot bite. What a wrong impression! Prof. Osinbajo has just sacked the Director-General of the country’s secret service, DSS, Lawal Daura, for approving the blockade of the National Assembly last Tuesday. With no pertinent cause, masked operatives of the DSS had prevented lawmakers, staff and journalists from entering the National Assembly.
Opposition lawmakers accused the ruling All Progressives Congress of being behind the blockade which saw the lawmakers locked out of their offices. The Clerk of the National Assembly was also refused entry to the Assembly complex. According to Laolu Akande, the Media aide to the Vice-President, Alhaji Daura, who was summoned to the presidential villa by the Acting President few minutes before his sack, was directed to hand over to the most senior officer of the DSS until further notice.
Prof. Osinbajo, who is standing in for the vacationing President Buhari, also described the unauthorized takeover of the National Assembly complex as a gross violation of constitutional order, rule of law and all acceptable notions of law and order.
He said the unlawful act which was undertaken without the knowledge of the Presidency is condemnable and completely unacceptable. “Prof. Osinbajo has consequently assured Nigerians that all persons within the law enforcement apparatus who participated in this travesty will be identified and subjected to appropriate disciplinary action.”
