Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike has declared that the nation’s democracy is under threat as result of the military-terrorist style of the present administration.
Speaking on the invasion of the National Assembly by the Department of State Services, Governor Wike said that democracy revolves around diplomacy and lobbying.
He said: “I have said it before and I will continue to say it. There is a threat to democracy. When they started with Judiciary, I raised alarm that this thing will happen to all arms of government. Now it has spread to the legislative arm.
“If well meaning Nigerians don’t speak up, our democracy will be truncated. Just one week ago, they laid siege and locked the Benue State House of Assembly . To the chagrin of all Nigerians, they invaded the beacon of democracy at the Federal Level “.
He stated that the APC Federal Government believes in intimidation and coercion of opponents, rather than following the principles of democracy.
The governor said: “I thought that politics is diplomacy and lobbying. Not this military terrorist style to go and invade an institution like the National Assembly.
“And you think that people will continue to leave you to have your way. It is no longer possible . People are tired of garrison democracy. They are tired of the APC Federal Government using the EFCC to intimidate people “.
He said that no right-thinking Nigerian will kick against the reconvening of the National Assembly. He, however, stated that due process must be followed to reconvene the National Assembly.
He said: “Nobody is talking about the fact that the President is yet to sign the Electoral Act. If the budget is important, what about the Electoral Act ?”
The governor said that the APC Federal Government takes undue advantage of national divisions, but Nigerians disappointed them by resisting impunity.
“Today, they are disappointed that Nigerians are saying that enough is enough. Nobody dies two times. This intimidation will not continue.
“I congratulate members of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives for providing leadership. I encourage them to remain resolute because more difficult times will come. They have to save Nigerian Democracy “, he said.
On the sack of the Director General of DSS, Governor Wike said he is unaware of the reason behind his sack.
“I don’t believe he was sacked due to the invasion, because the Inspector General of Police did same thing at the Benue State House of Assembly, but nothing has happened to the Inspector General of Police “, he said.
He wondered why the APC Federal Government is bent on impeaching Saraki and Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu when they don’t have the number.
“These people forget history. Tambuwal was elected Speaker in PDP but he defected to the APC and did not resign”, the governor said.
