By Joy Odor
A group of People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) persons from the Niger Delta region on Thursday stormed the premises of the National Assembly, claimed to be protesting against what they described as neglect by their representatives from the oil rich region.
The aggrieved protesters forced themselves inside the complex despite resistance by security operatives at the National Assembly gate.
Reportcircle correspondents who monitored the incident from the main entrance to the federal Parliament observed that they arrived in two commercial buses and entered
They beat the security operatives at the main entrance gate to the game as they entered around 11 am and trekked for about one kilometre.
They met another security barricade at the gate leading to the National Assembly complex as the riot police officers had shut it from inside.
A few of the disabled persons immediately climbed the expanse iron gate and alighted at the other side from where they made the way for other colleagues.
They first proceeded to the entrance of the Senate building where they clashed with the security operatives and the sergeant at arms, who are manning the place.
One of the protesters slumped in the process and fainted but he was revived by his colleagues who poured him table water.
The determination posture of the disabled persons scared the police officers as they hurriedly shot the doors and removed the official vehicles of the Senate President and that of his deputy, parked at the senate building entrance.
The protesters therefore proceeded to the entrance of the White House where they had a major clash with the security operatives again.
The police officers released tear gas cannisters on the disabled persons, a situation which forced them to descend on the uniformed men.
One of the sergeant at arms operatives, whose name was simply identified as Bugama, was mercilessly beaten up by the physically challenged people.
It took the efforts of four gallant police officers to rescue the helpless Bugama from the protesters who tore his clothes and seized the official documents found on him including the identity cards.
The Deputy Whip of the senate, Aliyu Sabi, who led other lawmakers to meet with the protesters appealed for calm pledging that their grievances would be addressed.
He asked the aggrieved protesters to delegate a five-member team to meet the National Assembly leadership.
Abdullahi assured them that their demands would be accommodated in the 2021 budget.
The spokesperson for the group, Rawlings Etim, said they arrived at the National Assembly from the various states of Niger Delta to demand their rights from their representatives.
He claimed that they were being denied their rights despite being educated .
Etim said, “We are representative of the Niger Delta.
We came here to demand for what is ours because in everything we have been marginalised – even jobs we don’t have.
“We were here when the disability bill was passed into law but since we gave these people our proposal they have not listened to it.
“Presently what is causing this confusion is that our delegates came yesterday and they had a good dialogue with the Senate and the House leadership.
” We were assured that we would be provided with a hilux to pick only the executive to come for a meeting by 10am, to meet with them for a dialogue. We have waited, but nothing happened. This is why we are here”
Abdullahi said, “We are here on behalf of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Yesterday, we were supposed to see you but there was a mistake in the timing. It is not that we did not plan to see you.”
