How Villa Security Embarrassed Buhari, Scuttled Vital Meeting With NASS Leadership

Security personnel at the residence of Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari, today, harassed the leadership of the National Assembly led by Senate President, Bukola Saraki and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, as they went to attend a crucial meeting called by the president, a close source has told NewsWire NGR.

The source who is close to the NASS leadership told this paper that about 8:30 pm when the lawmakers arrived the Villa, security personnel ordered the bus conveying them to stop for them to be searched, while they walked all the way to the venue of the meeting.

Chaos broke out when the security men told Saraki and Dogara to remain on the bus to be driven to the venue, but both men declined, asking to be treated as equals with their colleagues.

The source said eventually, the remaining lawmakers returned to the Senate President’s house in Maitama, while Saraki and Dogara went in to see the President.

Upon receiving the news, the source said Buhari was visibly embarrassed and ordered that members of the National Assembly leadership be issued Access Passes that grant them access to the villa at all times.

What was supposed to be a meeting between the lawmakers and the President to iron out aspects of the 2018 budget approved by the Federal Executive Council today, ended up as a dinner attended by only six persons, Buhari, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Saraki, Dogara, Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, and Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters, Ita Enang.

The meeting has now been postponed until next Tuesday, October, 31.

Calls to President Buhari’s Senior Assistant on Media, Garba Shehu, were not taken, and the text message sent was not replied at the time of filing this report.

Meanwhile, Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media, Laolu Akande and the Personal Assistant to Buhari on Media, have shared pictures on social media, suggesting that the scheduled meeting held.

President Buhari meets, alongside Vice President Osinbajo, with National Assembly leaders @ Presidential Villa this evening. ?Novo Isioro pic.twitter.com/pTuDcGxu5x

— Laolu Akande (@akandeoj) October 26, 2017

Tonight, President @MBuhari, VP @ProfOsinbajo hosted SP @BukolaSaraki, Rt Hon @YakubDogara to a private dinner in his residence at the Villa pic.twitter.com/nbwAQMpNCv

— Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) October 26, 2017