Crises have rocked two states in the South West, Lagos and Osun, over the control of the state assembly and local government systems.
The crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, triggered by the removal of the former speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, took another dimension yesterday.
Tension erupted in the Assembly following the arrival of the DSS to seal off the offices of Speaker Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the Clerk of the House to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
In the ensuing melee that disorganized activities in the Lagos State House of Assembly, members of the Assembly hurriedly held their plenary session under the heavy presence of DSS operatives and other security agencies.
LEADERSHIP observed that at about 10 a.m. on Monday, DSS operatives and men of the Nigeria Police stormed the premises of the House.
But in a sheer show of solidarity, the Lagos State House of Assembly staff rose in support of Speaker Meranda.
The staff and sympathizers chanted solidarity songs as Speaker Meranda walked into the Chamber with the Sergeant-at-Arms carrying the mace, the symbol of the Assembly’s authority.
During the plenary, Lagos State lawmakers took turns to condemn the invasion of the Lagos State House of Assembly by DSS operatives.
In the commotion that ensued, a lawmaker, Hon. Olayinka Kazeem, representing Mushin Constituency 2, was rushed to the hospital following an attempt to forcibly enter the Chamber.
Lawmakers, who had met at the garden in front of the Chamber, resisted the DSS operatives with the support of police personnel, orderlies, and staff members who were in solidarity with the new leadership.
On a matter of urgent public importance raised by Mr. Kehinde Joseph, representing Alimosho Constituency 2, the lawmakers moved a motion to condemn the invasion of the parliament, describing it as an assault on democracy.
The lawmakers noted that the Gestapo-style invasion was an embarrassment to democratic norms and that whoever was aggrieved by the new leadership of the House should approach the courts.
“There are better and civil ways to settle scores, and the former speaker has approached the court, so what else?” they said.
Majority Leader, Hon. Temitope Joseph, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Senate President Godswill Akpabio to intervene and call the DSS to order.
He stated categorically, “If 37 out of 40 members say they are not satisfied with a particular leadership and resolved for a change, there cannot be any going back.”
All the 37 members present thereafter passed a vote of confidence on Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
Earlier, Acting Clerk Taiwo Otun had said that a letter from the state High Court indicated that former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa had taken the case of his removal to court.
The lawmakers adjourned sitting indefinitely to forestall further crises that saw their speaker emotionally enmeshed in tears.
LEADERSHIP further gathered from sources in the Assembly that the Lagos lawmakers had, in a letter marked LSHA/FAD/0/7S 4/323 and dated 14 February 2025, written to the director of the Department of State Services, Lagos State Command, Magodo, Shangisha, Lagos, seeking the protection of the Assembly complex against anticipated violence that might erupt in it.
The letter, which was signed by the acting clerk of the House, Mr. A. T. B. Ottun, read in part, “I wish to bring to your attention a pressing matter that requires immediate action. The impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on February 18th, 2025, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members.”
Atiku Condemns Invitation of Security Operatives Into Lagos Assembly
Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said the invitation of armed security operatives to resolve a conflict in a parliament is anathema that should be frowned upon and urgently interrogated.
He said the act is an attack on the sanctity of democracy and a landmark of indignity to the Nigerian electorate, especially the people of Lagos.
He stated this in reaction to what he called security operatives’ invasion of the Lagos State House of Assembly over the impasse on the Speakership position.
Atiku, who reacted on his X handle, said, “The viral video of armed security operatives invading the Lagos State House of Assembly is utterly reprehensible and stands condemned. It must be subjected to a complete and thorough investigation.”
Council Boss, 4 Others Die in Osun Council Crisis
No fewer than five persons on Monday lost their lives in the violence that erupted following an attempt to take over council secretariats by reinstating local government council political officials in Osun State.
Prominent among those who died in the crossfire by thugs and members of the two warring political parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was former chairman of Irewole local government, Ikire, Mr. Remi Abass.
Others, according to Osun State Commissioner for Protocols and Governmental Affairs, Soji Ajeigbe, are Damilare Oloyede and Taye, who were allegedly shot dead in Iragbiji, Boripe local government area of Osun State.
Ajeigbe, while addressing newsmen in Iragbiji, alleged that Damilare and Taye, who were members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), were killed by agents of the All Progressives Congress around the Boripe local government area secretariat in Iragbiji.
Also briefing the press at the APC secretariat, Osogbo, Alhaji Jamiu Olawumi stated that about three members of the APC, including Remi Abass, a councilor in Olaoluwa local government, and another member of the APC from Isokan local government, were killed by agents of the PDP.
Olawumi stated that no fewer than 15 of the Court of Appeal reinstated council chairmen assumed office by 9 a.m., but that at 9:30 a.m., virtually all other council chairmen assumed office, only to be chased out by hoodlums later deployed by the PDP.
APC urged all elected party officials reinstated by the Appeal Court verdict of the 10th of February 2025 to continue going to office as ordered by the appellate court.
Earlier in the day, violence had broken out in virtually all the local government areas across the state as the council chairmen attempted to assume office following the court verdict.
Meanwhile, Governor Ademola Adeleke has directed Osun residents, including politicians across political divides, to avoid the local government secretariats to protect public properties and avoid further bloodshed.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Mallam Olawale Rasheed, in reaction to the crisis generated by the APC takeover bid of local governments in the state, the governor affirmed that since the local government workers are on strike, only security agencies should be allowed to operate the secretariats.
“I therefore direct all law-abiding Osun residents to stay away from the council secretariats, especially as they are expected to be under lock and key.
“I equally condole with families of victims of the APC illegal takeover bid, and chaos unleashed across the state by the APC and their hired thugs. PDP lost five members, with several others wounded. Two of those members are from Iragbiji, Boripe local government. Another two were killed at Ola Oluwa Local Government. Another one was lost at Ikire. We must stop the bloodshed,” the governor lamented.
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