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In every coup d’état, whether successful or unsuccessful, someone or a group of persons must definitely be held accountable. What Nigerians witnessed with the sack of Lawal Musa Daura is nothing short of someone taking responsibility for the failed coup d’état of the presidency against the leadership of the National Assembly. Irrespective of how the scenario played out, and the presidency trying to act as if what happened is a surprise to them as well, Lawal Daura understands this and he is ready to act this script to the letter.
There are two ways to unearth the truth behind any matter. First you begin from looking at the remote cause and then you examine the immediate cause of it. The remote cause of the show of shame we saw at the National Assembly on Tuesday began long ago. The incessant loggerheads between the Executive and the leadership of the National Assembly on a number of issues, starting from the emergence of Bukola Saraki and Yakubu Dogara as the leaders of the National Assembly, to the issues of budget cutting, the national assembly budget, security and all of that. It was clear from the beginning that the current leadership of the national assembly are not the Executive’s favourite, neither is it the All Progressive Congress’ choice as well. But it was too late to make any amends.
The immediate cause of the matter was that moment the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki decamped from the ruling party, the All Progressive Congress (APC) to the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). The chairman of the APC, comrade Adams Oshiomhole had openly said that it would be good if the Senate President can do the honourable thing by seceding his seat as the senate President. Oshiomhole told journalists that the “senate president collected a crown that belonged to a family to wear in another and therefore, the senate president must return the crown to the house where it belongs, since the APC is still the largest party in the senate.”
In a bid to ensure that the crown is forcefully taken, even since Saraki has refused to return it, Lawal Daura, an appointee of the Presidency decided to take it by force by ensuring that a fraction of the national assembly members be provided cover while they move a motion for the impeachment of the Senate President, in a meeting the Senate President had called to discuss some important national matters. If the plan had gone as planned by the ruling party, it however might have been another show of shame in the nation’s legislative chambers, far bigger than what we eventually witnessed.
Although the President, Muhammadu Buhari may not have given the direct order that Lawal Daura should go ahead with such a barbaric act in a democratic dispensation, and the Acting President Prof. Yemi Osinbajo had also said he was not in the know concerning what happened, the question then is: who gave Lawal Daura the go ahead for such a show? Was Lawal Daura following the President’s body language? Was Daura influenced by some highly placed politicians from the leadership of the ruling party (APC)? And who says Oshimhole could not have given Lawal Daura the go ahead to do what he did on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari?
Although the whole matter seems to be shrouded in some darkness at the moment, but the truth one day, would come to the fore. One thing that is definitely certain in all of this is the fact that Mr. Daura did not act alone. The orders may not have come from President Muhammadu Buhari or his deputy, Yemi Osinbajo. But some elements within the APC are sure aware of what transpired on Tuesday in the National Assembly.I believe Lawal Musa Daura has no doubt learnt a great lesson of his life. His sack was timely and absolutely justified. He is sure the sacrificial lamb that would take the fall for the Presidency’s inability to illegally remove the senate president.
Under no circumstances should this flagrant display of impunity be allowed to go unpunished. Now, he would be quizzed to talk and also give account of his other nefarious activities while he was in charge as Director-general of Department of State Services (DSS). President Buhari must be painted like he knew nothing about this whole matter and so, Lawal Daura would be the scapegoat.