According to the report from the Sun, As the nationwide protests set for August 1 approach, numerous senators, members of the House of Representatives, and some Federal Executive Council (FEC) members are temporarily relocating abroad under the pretext of medical checkups and summer vacations.
In a swift move, both the Senate and the House of Representatives suspended their sessions last Tuesday to allow members to obtain visas and escape the anticipated protests.
Several lawmakers, speaking anonymously to Daily Sun, expressed their concern that if the protests proceed as planned, they might become primary targets. They recalled the 2020 protests, which saw many of them attacked and their properties vandalized by demonstrators.
A senator told Daily Sun that while ministers, governors, and presidential aides are generally shielded by security, lawmakers often lack similar protection. “As legislators, we are easily accessible to the public, which poses a significant risk to our safety during major uprisings,” the senator explained. He compared the situation to recent protests in Kenya, where lawmakers were attacked and their buildings set on fire while the president and cabinet members were secured.
The senator added, “We were originally scheduled for our annual break next week, but due to the imminent threats, many of us requested an earlier adjournment. The leadership of the National Assembly accommodated our request.”
Some lawmakers who cannot afford additional security measures are leaving the country until the unrest subsides. “I am departing Abuja this weekend,” the senator said. “President Bola Tinubu, his ministers, and the governors have adequate protection. We, however, do not, making it safer to leave until the situation stabilizes.”
A travel agent at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, confirmed that many National Assembly members have secured emergency tickets for destinations in Europe, the Middle East, and Africa. The agent noted that the surge in demand has nearly doubled ticket prices. “I booked a return flight for a senator to the United States for almost $3,000,” she said. “South Africa and the United Kingdom are the most popular destinations among lawmakers, with others opting for Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Ghana.”
The agent revealed that one senator expressed fear over the potential violence of the protests, saying he was leaving Nigeria to “save his head.”….Seë _ Morë