ABUJA (Sundiata Post) – Senate President Bukola Saraki’s media advider, Alhaji Yusuph Olaniyonu, has clarified on the denial of access to the Presidential Villa, Abuja when leaders and members of the National Assembly sought to honour a dinner invitation from President Muhamadu Buhari on Thursday.
In a reply to Sundiata Post’s enquiry, Olaniyonu said the leadership of the two chambers of NASS were to have a meeting with Buhari in the Villa on the invitation and request of the President.
He said: “On getting to the gate of the President’s residence in the Coaster bus in which they all were, the security men said only Senate President (Saraki) and Speaker (Yakubu Dogara) would be driven in while the others should disembark for security checks. The legislators found that unusual but they were told the CSO (chief security officer) to Buhari gave the order.
“After some arguments, the NASS leadership decided to turn back and returned.
“On realising the mistake, Chief of Staff to President and SSA to the President on Senate Matters rushed to Senate President’s house to plead that the legialators should return for the meeting. The legislators refused and mandated the Senate President and Speaker to go and covey their disappointment to Buhari.
“The Senate President and Speaker did that. Now meeting has been shifted to next Tuesday while Buhari has decided that all members of NASS leadership be issued automatic pass to enter the Villa at all times.”
Sundiata Post had earlier reported that leaders of the National Assembly were on Thursday denied access to the Villa for dinner and meeting with Buhari.