…Give peace a chance — IPAC tells Obasa
By Sodiq Adelakun
The recently ousted Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa has denied reports that firearms were uncovered in his office by Department of State Services (DSS) agents during a recent visit to the Assembly.
The reports, which surfaced on Tuesday, suggested that 47 pump-action guns were found in the former Speaker’s office.
In a statement, Obasa described the claims as a “complete concoction,” intended to undermine his decades of political service and reputation.
He added that the reports were an “ill-conceived attempt” to malign his hard-earned legacy.
“The story clearly exposes its author and paymasters as maliciously of low intelligence, only out to defame my name,” Obasa said in the statement, which was signed by him and released through his aide.
Obasa further explained that it was public knowledge that he had traveled abroad at the end of December and returned in January, by which time he had already been removed from office a matter he noted was under judicial review.
The former Speaker claimed that following his removal, his office was forcefully broken into and thoroughly ransacked while the Assembly was in recess. He described the sudden and suspicious “discovery” of firearms as nothing but a retaliatory act against him.
“Immediately their sinister act was carried out while the House was on recess, my office (the Speaker’s Office) and the Assembly Chamber were forcefully broken into and thoroughly ransacked by their assigned officers,” Obasa said.
He dismissed the firearms discovery as an afterthought by those he claimed were trying to justify the illegal actions taken against him.
A source within the DSS, however, debunked the reports, told journalists that no such weapons had been found at the Assembly, further discrediting the allegations.
As the controversy continues to unfold, Obasa’s supporters have rallied behind him, maintaining that the ex-Speaker is the victim of a political witch hunt.
Meanwhile, Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) in Lagos State has called on the impeached Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, to give peace a chance.
Chairperson of IPAC in the state, Mrs Temilola Akinade, stated this in an interview with newmen on Wednesday in Lagos.
Recall that the speakership crisis began on Jan. 13 when 32 out of the 40-member assembly removed Obasa and replaced him with Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda.
The crisis, however, escalated on Monday when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and armed police officers sealed the offices of the new speaker and the deputy speaker as well as the chamber.
Akinade said that the umbrella body of political parties in the state was embarrassed by the latest development that interrupted the legislative process on Monday.
She described disruption of legislative activities at the assembly over leadership crisis as unacceptable.
“IPAC will no more accept distraction at the Lagos State House of Assembly. It is enough in the assembly that prides itself above the common standard of excellence. The outgone speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, has done his best for the state; let him calm down and give peace a chance.
“The impeached Speaker (Obasa) should allow Madam Speaker (Meranda) to continue from where he has stopped. The law allows lawmakers to choose one of them as the speaker and so, the overwhelming number of them have spoken and chosen Mojisola Meranda to lead them.
“We should not allow personal or group interest to destroy democracy in the state. Care must be taken,” she said.
Decrying the emotional stress the new speaker had been subjected to, the IPAC boss said that the leadership crisis must come to an end.
“The emotional stress Madam Speaker is going through now needs to come to an end for her to perform her legislative and leadership role, as being expected. For more than two-thirds of the 40-member legislative arm to pass a vote of confidence in her, this show she has the legitimacy.
“We have seen physically and with video evidence that both workers and lawmakers in the assembly believe in her and want her leadership,” she stated.