Presidency alleges ‘security mix up’, as Buhari postpones dinner meeting with NASS leaders

The Presidency has announced that President Muhammadu Buhari will now on Tuesday, October 31, 2017, host the leadership of the National Assembly to a dinner at the Presidential Villa.

This is coming as Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker Yakubu Dogara and other leaders of the both chambers of the National Assembly were embarrassed by security operatives, who turned them back from the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Thursday night, the earlier date slated for the meeting.

The bus conveying the federal lawmakers who were going for the diner scheduled for 8.30pm at the Presidential Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, ahead of time were reportedly stopped by security men at the Pilot Gate.

The security operatives were said to have insisted that the National Assembly leaders must come down from the bus that was conveying them for security check, a demand that was said to have angered the lawmakers who then decided to return to base.

Reports say that it took the intervention of the Chief of Staff, Abba Kyari, who went and made peace with the lawmakers.

Following Kyari’s intervention only Saraki and Dogara returned for the dinner with the President and Vice-President during which Buhari apologised for the incident.

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Confirming the incident in a statement, the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, said, “At a private dinner with the Senate President, Dr. Abubakar Bukola Saraki, and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Yakubu Dogara, at the State House, President Buhari said the dinner, earlier arranged for Thursday, October 26, will now hold on Tuesday.

“The new date is occasioned by a security mix up that attended the earlier scheduled meeting.

“Thursday’s dinner meeting was attended by the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, Chief of Staff to the President, Mallam Abba Kyari, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (Senate), Sen. Ita Enang and Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly (House of Representatives), Sumaila Kawu.”

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