By Shola Abayomi.
Following yesterday’s violent protest by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), also known as Shiites, some members of the House of Representatives have asked the federal government to release the leader of the Islamic sect.
The Senate Minority Leader, Ndudi Elumelu, in his motion of urgent public importance at plenary today, berated the “porous” security arrangement at the National Assembly premises which caved in when invaded by the protesting members of the IMN movement.
Recall that the Shiites group yesterday, had a violent confrontation with security operatives stationed at the National Assembly complex while attempting to breach the second gate, having scaled past the first, which resulted to the death of one person and several others injured.
Contributing to Elumelu’s motion, Hon. Onofiok Luke also prayed the National Assembly to call on the federal government to release Elzakzaky.
He said, “This house has the power to legislate on matters of security, our conversation must be in line with views of Nigerians.
“The challenges of the country, if the court has given an order for the release of the man, we should call on the government to release him. The discourse should not be on the invasion of the National Assembly or the chamber.”
Another member of the House, Bamidele Salami from Osun State, asked the federal government to obey the various court judgements ordering Elzakzaky’s release, adding that injustice in one place, is injustice everywhere.
“We have to address the root cause of the Shiite movement. Three years ago, the military unleashed an unimaginable violence against unarmed civilians. The man held in detention has been released by several courts of jurisdiction. I appeal to the government to release the man.
“We need to be more proactive so that we do not repeat the Boko Haram trend. Injustice in one place, is injustice everywhere”, he said.