By Chinonso Alozie

OWERRI—The former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha, yesterday said that time has come for Nigerians to rise against any attempt to truncate democracy in Nigeria.

Ihedioha’s statement was made available to Vanguard in Owerri by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Chibuike Onyekwu while reacting to the reported invasion of the national assembly by men of Department of State Services, DSS.

He also called on Nigerians to be at elert to save the country from the forces of darkness that want to end democracy in the country.

According to Ihedioha, “this democracy is too precious to Nigerians for any individual or group to hold to ransom. I wish to alert Nigerians that the APC national chairman, Adams Oshiomhole and his band of notorious gangsters have become a nuisance and an increasing threat to our democracy  and must not be allowed to truncate our hard earned democratic government.

“The legislature is the fulcrum of democratic practice.Consequently, the assault on the people’s House, an institution that symbolizes our democracy and has indeed entrenched its culture is to say the least, a failed coup, abuse of power and indeed smacks of dictatorship.

“Undoubtedly, the reported sack of the Director-General, Department of State Services,  Lawal Daura is only an afterthought and indeed, a face-saving strategy that cannot divert the attention of Nigerians and the international community from this condemnable act.

“Nigerians are taking note of their enemies who are bent on derailing their will in order to achieve their inordinate ambition to cling perpetually on power. But our  God will disgrace them. This is the time for Nigerians to close ranks against these forces of darkness to save our nation.

“I call on fellow democrats, civil society organisations, professional bodies, Nigerians and the international community to continue to be on alert to the anti-democratic vices of the APC-led government with a view to resisting their desperation to truncate our unity and plunge our nation into anarchy.”