DSS Assembly Invasion: Is Lagos Gradually Losing It?

After serving his term as the La­gos State governor, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, now the president, was heavily criticised in some parts of the country for his alleged hard grip on the affairs of the state.

To so many people, Tinubu was seen not as a democrat as he singlehandedly pick who would be the governor of the state, a development that drew wide condemna­tions, particularly from members of the opposition, who saw and perhaps still see in him an emperor who has the state appa­ratus in his tight grip, without divergent voices, though against the tenets of dem­ocratic governance.

However, one remarkable advantage that has ensued in Tinubu’s system of succession in all areas of governance of Lagos State is the unity in the state.

Suffice to say that the influence from Bourdillon Road, Ikoyi, has not only sus­tained the state politically but ensured seamless transition of power with little or non-existent crisis ever heard in Lagos. The state is one of the most politically peaceful states, a situation that has contin­ued to drive it towards development, with emphasis on following the master plan.

From the executive arm to the legisla­ture and down to the judiciary, Lagos has been an example of political stability, as hardly are any crises heard in the rank of the ruling party and the state, and even when such arises, there is a machinery in place to de-escalate it.

However, the recent occurrence at the Lagos State House of Assembly on Mon­day where personnel of the Department of State Service (DSS) allegedly attempted to take over the Chamber has all but shown that the state, perhaps, is gradually losing it.

Trouble started in the Assembly on January 13 when the lawmakers removed the former speaker, Dr. Mudashiru Oba­sa, and, in his stead, they unanimously elected his deputy, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Mer­anda. Despite the change of guard, there was relative peace until Obasa, who was away, returned. Since then, the House has known no peace, with the members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos, making frantic efforts to settle the issue and ensure there is no implosion of the party in Lagos.

However, a source privy to several meet­ings by the GAC told our correspondent that while majority of the GAC members are in support of the continuation of Mer­anda as the speaker, a handful of others want the current speaker out, even if Oba­sa won’t come back.

“Majority of GAC members want Mer­anda to continue in her office but I can tell you that few of them don’t want that.

“They feel even if Obasa won’t come back, Meranda should step down for peace to reign,” our correspondent was told by a GAC source.

The Assembly crisis got to a head on Monday with the alleged invasion of the complex by the DSS who reportedly said they came on invitation from the clerk. Ac­cording to a viral letter, the clerk actually invited the secret police to the Assembly.

A letter seen by DAILY INDEPENDENT, dated February 14, 2025, showed that the acting clerk of the Assembly, A. T. B. Ot­tun, wrote to the secret police, requesting more presence of operatives at the com­plex.

According to the letter with reference no: LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323, the DSS was instructed to ensure strict access to the fa­cility from February 15 till further notice.

The letter, titled, ‘URGENT: EN­HANCED SECURITY MEASURES FOR LSHA PREMISES’, read: “I wish to bring to your attention a pressing matter that requires immediate action.

“The impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on the 18th of February, 2025, as the Speak­er, posing a potential security threat to the Assembly and its members.

“In light of this situation, we kindly re­quest that you take necessary measures to fortify the security of the Assembly premises with effect from Sunday, 16 Feb­ruary 2025, by increasing the presence of your men and as well observe strict access control within and outside the Assembly premises till further notice. We look for­ward to your prompt attention Sir. Thank you.”

Consequently, Monday’s plenary ear­lier scheduled for 11 am was delayed till around 12:51 pm, as the DSS operatives sealed the offices of the speaker and other principal officers of the House.

The Assembly chamber was also under restriction, with the lawmakers forcing their way into the chamber after about two hours of being stranded outside the building.

While attempting to enter the chamber, Speaker Meranda, who was surrounded by security details and Assembly workers, burst into tears amidst hailing and a show of solidarity from about 36 lawmakers and the assembly staff.

However, the content of the letter from the clerk to the DSS and the attendant ac­tions of the secret police posed more ques­tions than answers on what happened on Monday. While some sections of the pop­ulace linked the brouhaha to the former speaker, others are of the view that the DSS couldn’t have undermined the very Assembly they were invited to protect, thereby dismissing the Obasa factor.

Meanwhile, according to political watchers in the state, the alleged invasion may be a signpost that the once politically united state is crashing on the altars of ego from the former speaker who has refused to accept his removal.

An APC chieftain in Lagos who spoke on anonymity said the current problem could mark the end of unity in the party in the state and even governance itself, challenging the leaders to stand up to their responsibilities.

“I am afraid the crisis in the Assembly has shown that it is no more what it used to be with unity in Lagos,” the source said.

“Lagos is gradually becoming states like Rivers and this is very unfortunate; I know the president has bigger responsibilities but he still has to do something because the state is gradually slipping off. This is a bad omen for APC in Lagos and governance itself,” he said.

An APC group, the All Progressives Congress (APC) States Assembly Forum (ASAF), on their own, has backed the cur­rent speaker, Meranda, even as they also called on the president to intervene to save the situation.

“We urge President Bola Tinubu, who is the father of the nation and Lagos state in particular to prevail on all members of the assembly to give peace a chance and allow Hon. Meranda to carry out her legislative role as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.”

With the reported division among the GAC members, if true, the state could wit­ness an implosion in unity and governance which could give opposition parties a lee­way to Alausa.