BREAKING NEWS, Politics
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The #OccupyNASS Group made millions protesting at the National Assembly for close to three days as it got about N400,000 daily for all its effort
THE #OccupyNASS campaign group which has continued a protest demanding for the immediate resignation of the Senate President, Bukola Saraki over the charges brought against him by the CCT has denied being sponsored by any politician to embark on the recent protest.
But the group which was accused of being sponsored by politicians who want the Senate president out of office has been receiving money from different people, it has been revealed. It was gathered that the group has been receiving more than N400,000 daily from unnamed Nigerians who it is alleged are politicians who want the present Senate president out of office.
On Thursdays, the group tried to clear the air after accusations went viral that it was being used by politicians against the Senate president to incite Nigerians against him.
At a hastily-arranged press briefing Thursday night, the movement listed its achievements, demands and plans for the future.
Bunmi Awoyemi, its convener said: “This is the first time in the history of Nigeria that Nigerians from all walks of life were able to galvanise each other to come to Abuja to shut down the National Assembly,”
“We succeeded in sending a very strong message that Nigerians will no longer be taken for a ride.” he said.
He further revealed that the group has been receiving millions from some Nigerians but refused to say who they are.
“As we have said since the beginning of this protest, it’s not about Saraki. The aim of this protest is not to get Bukola Saraki to resign because he’s a symptom of the entire rot in the legislature.”
“The aim of this project is to achieve fundamental reforms.”
“From day one, when Nigerians said they’re interested in occupying the National Assembly, contributions started coming in. Nigerians started asking for the account of the movement.
“Five thousand, ten thousand, one hundred thousand and even one million. A Nigerian, sitting amongst you today, donated 1 million to this protest. From U.S., from U.K., people were contributing to this movement. We were averaging N400,000 every day.
“The National Assembly was trying to amend the law in order to escape justice. Some of them even said making laws that will further balance gender issues will make women turn to prostitutes,” the group said.
Speaking on the ongoing shameful budget impasse, the group blamed the Senate.
“We know the president sent a terrible budget,” the group said, “but they (lawmakers) took this terrible budget, mutilated it, destroyed it, pounded it, separated it and pocketed it.”
The group said it achieved the aim for which it started the protest.
“When the movement of OccupyNass started, there were issues that were related to the amendment of the Code of Conduct Bureau and Code of Conduct Tribunal Act and the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, it was when this movement took off that they took those controversial bills down.
“We succeeded in sending a very strong message that Nigerians will no longer be taken for a ride.
“The senators also held a private meeting in which they said there’s too much negative publicity about the National Assembly because of our protest.
“They also cancelled the summons of the CCT chairman.
“This is a victory not just for the Nigerian people but the agitation on social media as well,” the group said.
The group called on the Senate to immediately return the newly-acquired Toyota Land Cruiser vehicles and fasttrack the immediate passage of the petroleum industry bill as well as a reversal of all constituency projects proposed in the budget or face their wrath.
They also promised to continue their agitation for a better Nigeria by sensitising rural dwellers on the activities of their elected lawmakers. — Tori.ng
— Apr. 29, 2016 @ 10: 00 GMT
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