NASS leadership denied entry to Aso Rock •Buhari apologises to Saraki, Dogara

There was mild drama at the main entrance to the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday, assecurity operatives attached to the Presidential Villa denied Senate President Bukola Sarahi, Speaker Yakubu Dogara, their deputies and other members of the National Assembly entry into the villa.

The leadership of the Assembly were billed to meet with President Muhammadu Buhari on the 2018 budget, but it was gathered that as soon as a white Coaster bus carrying the presiding officers and the Principal officers approached the villa gate, the security men on hand asked the Senate Preisident and the Speaker to proceed inside while the other principal officers should alight from the bus and face security screening.

Saraki and Dogara were said to have resisted the order and insisted that the National.Assembly leadership was duly invited for a meeting with the President.

It was.gathered that the leadership was expected to discuss the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) which is to be passed as a prerequisite for the consideration of the.2018 budget.

It was gathered that the Senate President had to delay his trip to Lagos for his daughter’s wedding because of the scheduled meeting at the villa.

Sources told the Nigerian Tribune that the bus conveying the NASS leadership waited for 10 minutes after which Saraki ordered the vehicle to make a U-turn and depart the Villa.

It was gathered that Saraki and Dogara insisted that they would not enter the villa without their colleagues.

Sources also said that the security operatives told the Senators they had orders from the Chief Security Officer to the President that the senators must face screening.

It was however, gathered that as soon as the Senate President got to his house, the Chief of Staff, Abba Kari, bombarded him with calls and pleaded with him to return with the Senators.

It was gathered that the the Chief of Staff later visited Saraki to plead with him to return with the Senators

But it was learnt that the Senators and Rep members insisted on not returning to the Villa.

A source however, said that Saraki and Dogara later went to see Buhari alongside the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari.

It was learnt that the villa was apparently embarrassed with the denial of the 20 Senators entry to the presidential villa.

Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has apologized to Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara and members of the National Assembly for the denial of access to the leadership of the National Assembly at the presidential villa, Abuja.

The leadership was meant to have a dinner with the president but had to turn back from the Pilot Gate of villa as security operatives insisted on screening them individually.

They had driven in a Coaster bus when the security personnel demanded that they should alight to be screened one by one which they declined before turning back at the gate.

It was learnt that the Chief of Staff to the president, Abba Kyari later succeeded in bringing back the presiding officers.

The president met with both men as well as Special Assistants on National Assembly Matters, Senator Ita Enang and Hon. Baraji Kawu on Thursday night and apologized for the embarrassment caused by security personnel at the seat of power.

Vice President Yemi Osinbajo was also at the meeting.

The president was said to have instructed the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, to collect the names of all the principal officers of both houses for the purpose of issuing them with a villa pass for unrestricted access.

Saraki confirmed that the issue that led to the embarrassment had been sorted out and the dinner has been fixed for Tuesday next week.

He also said a larger meeting with the entire leadership of the National Assembly will be held in the next few days.