By Seyi Odewale
A dramatic scene unfolded yesterday at the Lagos State House of Assembly as operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) stormed the complex, causing panic among lawmakers, staff, and visitors.
The incident has sparked widespread reactions, with many questioning the motive behind the DSS operation at the legislative complex.
Members of the state House of Assembly described the invasion of armed men of DSS and Nigeria Police as “a rape, aberration on democracy and national embarrassment.”
The lawmakers claimed that the masked armed operatives invaded the premises without prior notice or invitation from the Assembly.
Staff and lawmakers arrived at the Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, earlier yesterday to find DSS operatives taking virtually over the complex and frisking everyone coming in.
Initially, no reason was adduced for the development. Still, information spread that it was due to a bomb scare following the discovery of items suspected to be bombs in the chamber.
The legislative chamber was locked up, preventing lawmakers from sitting for plenary.
The lawmakers, who later arrived one after the other, converged on the garden opposite the chamber.
A lawmaker, Olayinka Kazeem, collapsed during the melee and was immediately rushed to hospital for treatment.
The DSS operatives, who arrived as early as 8am, cordoned off the legislative chamber and the main entrance to the Speaker’s office, preventing members from gaining access.
At the last sitting on February 13, the Speaker, Meranda, adjourned the plenary session to February 17.
At about 12:25 p.m., irate staff forced the chamber doors open, chanting solidarity songs and resisting the DSS restriction.
The entire place was thrown into commotion when lawmakers decided to gain access forcibly to the chamber.
However, Meranda arrived with her convoy at about 11.15.am, in her husband’s company.
Meranda was seen intermittently sobbing, mopping up her tears from red-shot eyes before she was ushered into the chamber.
After forming a quorum at about 12:45 p.m., the lawmakers commenced the plenary session for the day amid a wild ovation.
Meanwhile, the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who was removed, is expected to return on February 18 after over one month of absence.
The embattled former Speaker had dragged Meranda and the Assembly to court over his removal from office.
Obasa filed a motion at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court, seeking an accelerated hearing of his suit.
On January 13, 32 out of the 40 members of the state Assembly removed him in absentia.
He was in the United States when he was removed in a situation President Bola Tinubu described as a ‘coup.’
This development has generated controversy, with members of the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, an apex political decision-making body in the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Lagos, divided over Obasa’s removal.
Obasa, in the suit, was challenging the legality of his removal from office.
The motion, filed on February 12, named the Lagos State House of Assembly and Mojisola Meranda, the current Speaker of the House, as defendants.
In the suit filed by his lawyers, led by Chief Afolabi Fashanu (SAN), Obasa seeks several reliefs, including “An order fixing a date for the expeditious hearing of the originating summons.
“An order of this Honourable Court abridging the time within which the Defendants may file their response by way of counter-affidavits/written addresses as specified by the Rules of this Honourable Court, to 7 days after the hearing and determination of this application.
“An order of this Honourable Court abridging the time within which the Plaintiff/Applicant may file its reply of point of law, as specified in the Rules of this Honourable Court, to 3 days of the service of the Defendants processes on him.”
Obasa’s application is predicated on nine grounds, including the interpretation of various sections of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As amended), and the Rules and Standing Order of the Lagos State House of Assembly.”
Meanwhile, clarification over the controversy surrounding the sealing off of the Speaker’s Office emerged as DSS vacated the premises shortly after the plenary at about 1:35 p.m.
*It’s a national embarrassment, rape on democracy– Legislators
Several lawmakers did not hide their feelings as they took turns to lament the situation at a plenary, which they had to force their way into the chamber.
However, the House, at the plenary, with 36 members in attendance, called on the Director of DSS in the state to explain the reasons for the invasion.
*House seek Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu’s intervention
The lawmakers also called on the National Security Adviser, Nuhu Ribadu, to probe the invasion and brief the public on the outcome.
The House also called on President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, and Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene immediately and rescue the Assembly from a deeper crisis.
In their contributions, lawmakers strongly condemned the act, describing it as an “abuse of legislative procedure” and an aberration of democracy.
Stephen Ogundipe, representing Oshodi/Isolo Constituency 1, lamented: “I am calling on the DSS to explain to Nigerians what warranted why they stormed the Assembly.
“My constituency elected me, and what is our sin to elect someone that can lead us? Democracy is being robbed here today. If the leadership is not good with the staff, they will not support the leadership of the House.
“I am sad on this day that armed men invaded the House of Assembly to disrupt the peace of the House.”
Subur Oluwa, representing Ajeromi Constituency 2, said, “The harassment I am seeing this afternoon is alarming, and it is a shame. It is a shame that we can be harassed like this.
“If we have a leader that cannot protect the interests of the people and we decide to change the leadership and elect someone who can protect the interests of the people, it should not be a problem. What happened today is an eyesore that needs to be addressed.”
Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe 1, said, “I arise to condemn the harassment by the DSS. What we witnessed this morning is an eyesore. Anarchy should not take over our Assembly. Our constituencies gave us a mandate to protect their interests.
“When we elected the former Speaker, nobody questioned our decision, and electing another Speaker should not be a problem for anyone. This embarrasses the Lagos Assembly and Nigeria as a nation.”
Suraju Tijani, representing Ojo 2, said, “This matter needs to be addressed properly. I see no reason why some people should disrupt the affairs of the Assembly. We call on our leader, President Bola Tinubu, to save us.”
Lawal Adeseyi, representing Ikeja 1, stated, “We should not be intimidated by one person.”
Gbolahan Yishawu, representing Eti Osa 2, said, “I am shocked, embarrassed, and worried about the DSS operations this morning.
“It is alarming that we can be subjected to this harassment. This is the democracy that President Bola Tinubu fought for and went into exile for. This is embarrassing and sad.”
Okanlawon Sanni, representing Kosofe 1, said, “Today, history has been made negatively. This is the DSS that we trained with our resources. There are several ways to settle political stubbles.”
Oladele Ajayi, representing Ibeju Lekki, 2, said, “This is not the first time we are removing a speaker, and heaven did not fall. Speaker Meranda, we are solidly behind you. Continue with your duties.”
Olarenwaju Afinni, representing Lagos Island 2, said, “DSS detained us because we removed Mudashiru Obasa, and we do not know why. And it is happening again. We need to call the National Assembly to intervene.”
Emmanuel Olotu, representing Ifako 2, said, “This is a great slap on democracy. One of us was rushed to the hospital just because of the DSS invasion. This kind of intimidation and harassment is an aberration on democracy.”
Temitope Adewale, the Majority leader representing Ifako 1, said, “Today will be a day I will never forget in my life. Today, we have seen beyond what we never thought would happen. We have elected you as the Speaker of the Assembly and are calling on President Tinubu to call the DSS to order. One of the lawmakers, Olayinka Kazeem, was rushed to the hospital due to shock.”
*Lawmakers, workers resist moves to unsettle Speaker Meranda
After a motion moved by Oladipo Ajomale, representing Oshodi 2, the lawmakers passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, and adjourned the sitting indefinitely.
However, members of the House of Assembly were unanimous in their decision, as they suspected the involvement of some powerful, influential individuals and groups in the whole saga.
Some staff and lawmakers threatened to resign if Meranda was removed eventually.
*House denies inviting secret police to cause uproar
Meanwhile, an aide to the Speaker, who spoke anonymously, said the content of the letter was misconstrued by mischief makers, inferring that the DSS men were officially invited.
“The letter in question was earlier sent by the House as a routine practice of the House when suspecting possible breakdown of law and order. This particular letter was sent for security beef-up following information that the removed Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, will be resuming on February 18 as Speaker, posing a security threat.
“They were invited along with other security personnel to fortify the security network of the Assembly as stated in the letter and not to seal off offices and chambers.
“But the action of the DSS men on Monday was in sharp detour from original plans as they hijacked the situation, sealing off the legislative chamber and offices of some principal officers. They must have taken a brief from another quarter to put up the embarrassing scene they displayed today. The Assembly did not invite DSS to seal our chamber and offices.”
