Breaking news: Pro-Saraki supporters barricade National Assembly

ABUJA – PROTESTERS Tuesday, barricaded the National Assembly drumming support for the embattled Senate President, Bukola Saraki and his deputy Ike Ekweremadu.

The pro-democracy group, Ohanaeze Ndi-Igbo Youth Movement ,ONYM, led by Mr Uche Nnadi told newsmen that the rally to the National Assembly was also to protest the use of anti-corruption war by politicians for personal gains.

“This despair is caused by the fact that the anti-corruption war which Nigerians, in general and Igbo youth have keyed into is being misused by few political elites to fight their political war.

“We must state categorically that it is an act of corruption to use the anti-corruption war for party politics and political benefits,’’ Nnadi said.

He faulted the trial of Saraki by the Code of Conduct Tribunal, saying that he was being persecuted because his emergence as Senate President allowed an Igbo man to be the Deputy Senate President.

According to him, the trial of the Senate President by the code of conduct Tribunal is in contravention of section 3(d) of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal Act.

“The same Chairman of the Tribunal, Mr Danladi Umar ruled in favour of the principle in section 3(d) on the November 30, 2011 in the case against Senator Ahmed Tinubu.

“And today  he is insisting on trying the Senate President.

“We know that Mr Danladi Umar cannot overrule himself,’’ he said.

Nnadi, therefore, urged the tribunal to quash the charges against the Senate President and discharge him.

He added that Saraki’s trial was quickly contrived to force him out of office.

“Otherwise why will all this political tension when the man has not been found guilty.

“Our law still upholds a man as innocent until he is found guilty,’’ he said.

The protesters displayed placards  some of which read : “No to Witch-hunting” and “No to Plot To Destabilize National Assembly”.

The protesters were  however, pushed beyond the first entry point of the NASS gate by security operatives who were very polite in the task.