Yakubu Dogara, Speaker of the House of Representatives, has raised the alarm of further assaults on the country’s legislature.
He said this while reacting to Tuesday’s shut down of the National Assembly by the Department of State Services (DSS).
The development led to the sack of DSS Director-General, Lawal Daura and the appointment of Matthew Seiyefa as his replacement.
Speaking on Tuesday night when he visited Toby Okechukwu (PDP – Aninri-Awgu-Oji federal constituency) on his birthday, Dogara warned that the battle was not over.
Addressing those present, including other members of the House, Dogara said: “What you (Reps members) did today is not just a service to our fatherland, it is a service to democracy, actually you have ensured that our democracy survives and you have beaten back the callous hands of tyranny.
“What we have done, therefore, is service to our democracy and forever this day will go into history, as one of those days our democracy faced serious trials and that true men and women of courage were able to ensure that it survives.
“You should be vigilant as it is said by so many philosophers that vigilance is the condition upon which God has given man liberty.
“Once you compromise that, instantly is the punishment of your crimes; it has been said clearly.
“So we have to be eternally vigilant; it is not that today’s event has ended and democracy will not face any other trial, they will keep coming.
“I want to thank you all and I pray that as we retire to our home, God should remove fatigue from us and enable us to do more noble things for the benefit of this great country and our constituents.”
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