Senate Stolen Mace Saga, An Attempted Coup - Senator Waku

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Senate Stolen Mace Saga, An Attempted Coup - Senator Waku

Elder statesman and former Senator representing Benue North-West District between 1999 and 2003, Joseph Waku, has described the snatching of the mace from the chamber as an attempted coup.

Waku, who likened the Wednesday’s incident to the days of Chuba Okadigbo as the Senate President, said the person behind the drama should be brought to book

He told Premium Times that, “It is not just our democracy but also our security. The person behind this should be brought to book. That (National Assembly) is an institution. It is an attempted coup. He should be tried for treason. The mace is the symbol of authority of the Senate and the Senate President is the chairman of the National Assembly. So it is an attempted coup and should be treated as such.

“In that case, there was no breakage. We took it, it was not stolen. It was during our vacation. We were on vacation. It was during Obj’s (President Olusegun Obasanjo) time and it was during a crisis.

“There was a plan to remove Okadigbo and we got wind of it and adjourned and took the mace. But the then deputy senate president, Haruna Abubakar, attempted to reconvene the Senate. They went and arranged for a fake mace but we intercepted it. Haruna wanted to preside as acting senate president.”

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Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Speaks On The Senate Invasion, Missing Mace

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Senator Ovie Omo-Agege Speaks On The Senate Invasion, Missing Mace

The Senator representing Delta Central district in the National Assembly, Ovie Omo-Agege, has reacted to the invasion of the Senate Chambers by suspected hoodlums.

The Senate Chamber was invaded earlier today by some thugs believed to be loyal to Senator Omo-Agege. Shortly after the mace was stolen, the Senate accused Senator Ovie Omo-Agege of sending thugs to steal the mace.

The Senator in his reaction, however, denied involvement in the theft of the mace.

A statement signed by his lawyer, Lucky Ajokperniovo, said that he only went to the Red Chamber on Wednesday, April 18 to resume work and sit for plenary, adding that he was only invited by the police to speak on his perspective and has been released.

The statement reads: “We are aware of several media reports suggesting that Senator Omo-Agege personally removed or encouraged anyone to remove the Mace of the Senate. This weighty allegation is not true at all.

“Following the said media reports on the Mace issue, the Police authorities decided to hear from Senator Omo-Agege. He has told the Police his perspective to help them carry out a proper investigation. He has since left the Police. Senator Omo-Agege trusts them to thoroughly investigate this very serious matter.”

Omo-Agege also reacted to the statement by the Senate Spokesperson, Senator Abdullahi Sabi accusing him of leading the hoodlums to cart away the mace.

“Without any investigation, Senator Sabi willfully, deliberately and unfairly made very serious allegations against Senator Omo-Agege on the Mace incident.

“We are carefully studying Senator Sabi’s allegations to ascertain their full ramifications. Appropriate responses will follow, as may be necessary,” he said.

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Missing Mace: FG Orders Immediate Probe Of Senate Invasion

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Missing Mace: FG Orders Immediate Probe Of Senate Invasion

The Federal Government has ordered a probe of the invasion of the Senate on Wednesday, during which the mace was taken away.

Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this in a statement issued in Abuja.

The statement said the government received the report of the theft of the Senate’s mace with shock.

We reported that thugs suspected to be loyal to the suspended Senator representing Delta Central Senatorial district, Ovie Omo-Agege had invaded the red chambers and forcefully taken away the mace.

They broke into the chambers when plenary was going on, creating serious confusion and tension.

Few minutes later, the mace was reportedly recovered and the hallowed chamber resumed sitting.

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