Demonstrators overrun the National Assembly, demanding the dismissal of the defence minister

Protesters demanding Bello Matawalle, the Minister of Defence, be fired marched in large numbers to the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.

Along with holding banners with various slogans like “Our defence budget not in safe hands” and “Sack Bello Matawalle now,” the demonstrators at the complex also sung solidarity songs.

In addition, the activists operating under the auspices of the Civil Society Advocacy Groups for Accountability and Probity charged the minister with being the “romancing bandit” in charge of the destruction of property valued at billions of naira and the deaths of people in the northern region of the nation.

Speaking to reporters in front of the National Assembly, the group’s head, Danesi Momoh, urged Senate President Godswill Akpabio to put pressure on the President to guarantee that Matawalle is fired.

READ ALSO: Defence Minister seeks to increase military cooperation in defence

“Perhaps one of the biggest errors of this administration was giving the Defence portfolio to an ineffective leader.” However, if the Senate takes a stand in that direction, it can be fixed, he added.

“To restore some hope in good governance, we call on the Senate to weigh in and ensure that he is removed immediately,” he continued.

Please accept our assurance that, despite the fact that we are aware of how restricted your job may be, it is crucial that you fulfil it in the best interests of the country. Additionally, we will be applying more and more pressure to replace President Bola Tinubu, at whose table the responsibility lies. The Senate only needs to contribute what it can. In order to gradually remove him from public service, the Senate ought to assist.

After receiving the petition on behalf of Akpabio, Salihu Abdullahi, Director, Sergeant at Arms, National Assembly, responded to the demonstration by expressing his appreciation with the demonstrators’ peaceful and orderly behaviour and promising to take their complaints to the proper authorities.