TheCable

Aminu Tambuwal, governor of Sokoto state, has described the blockade of the national assembly by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) as an attempted coup  against the legislature.

In a statement, the governor described the action as a direct and unacceptable indication of contempt for the sanctity of the legislature.

On Tuesday, DSS operatives blocked all entrances to the national assembly. Consequently, Acting President Yemi Osinbajo had directed the sack of Lawal Daura, acting director-general of the DSS.

Tambuwal applauded the immediate removal of the DSS DG.

The governor, who is the immediate past speaker of the house of representatives, urged Nigerians not to allow anyone bring down the democratic freedom they fought hard to achieve.

“It is wrong and unconscionable for security operatives of any 21st century nation to act in ways suggesting democracy and the will of the people could be held to ransom,” he said.

“The ugly incident is an attempted coup  against the legislature that requires full and unremitting investigation.

“Every Nigerian must rise and stand up to defend democracy now or suffer the consequences of a police state.”

Last week, the governor defected from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) along with Salihu Maidaji, speaker of the state house of assembly, and 17 other members.