Obasa: Why we took over Lagos Assembly –DSS

By Sunday Ani and Molly Kilete, Abuja

The Department of State Services (DSS) has clarified that contrary to reports that it invaded the premises of the Lagos House of Assembly, its operatives were actually invited by the lawmakers to provide security.

The request for security, the DSS explained, was contained in a letter dated February 14.

In the said letter, the Assembly management told security agencies that there was credible information of a plot to forcefully reinstate the impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

The letter, with reference number LSHA/FAD/0/7554/323, signed by the Acting Clerk of the Assembly,  Mr. A. T. B. Ottun, was addressed to the DSS director and heads of other security agencies in Lagos State.

The letter titled “URGENT: ENHANCED SECURITY MEASURES FOR LSHA PREMISES said credible information revealed that plans to forcefully reinstate impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa were underway and it could pose a security risk.

An excerpt of the letter from the Lagos assembly was included in the DSS statement and it read partly: “The impeached Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly plans to resume office on the 18th of February, 2025, 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,16th February 2025, by increasing the presence of your men and observing strict access control within and outside the Assembly premises till further notice.”

According to reports, the DSS operatives sealed the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her deputy and clerk of the Assembly.

It was gathered that armed security personnel took over the premises at Alausa, Ikeja at about 10 am and passersby were frisked away.

Meranda and her convoy reportedly arrived at about 11.15 am.

The DSS officers who invaded the Assembly, blocked the lawmakers’ access into the assembly chambers ahead of the expected plenary.

The lawmakers who had gathered at the garden in front of the Chamber, resisted the DSS with the support of police officers deployed to the Assembly, orderlies and staff members, who were all in solidarity with the new leadership under Meranda.

When the lawmakers finally gained access into the chambers, the DSS operatives again tried to force their way into the chambers to disrupt the plenary session but it again took the combined efforts of the legislative staff, policemen and lawmakers to prevent them from gaining access into the chamber.

Both the legislative staff and lawmakers declared their support for Meranda while expressing confidence in her leadership.

Regardless of the explanation, members of the Assembly have condemned the invasion of the hallowed chambers by heavily armed personnel of the DSS.

Moving a motion under matter of urgent public importance, Mr. Kehinde Joseph, representing Alimosho 2, condemned the invasion and demanded that the DG of DSS must be called to answer for the invasion.

The lawmakers who took turns to comment on the development all condemned the invasion, noting that the Gestapo style of the invasion was an assault on democracy. They stressed that whoever was aggrieved with the new leadership of the Assembly should approach the court for redress.

Spokesman of the House, Stephen Ogundipe, described the invasion and harassment as a rape on democracy.

Lawmaker representing Ajeromi-Ifelodun 2, Sabur Oluwa described the invasion and harassment as unnecessary and unprofessional.

According to him, “The harassment is unnecessary and unprofessional on the part of the DSS. I’m still shivering. We are elected by the people to protect the interests of the people. If we have a speaker who we believe is not protecting our interest and that of the people, we have decided to elect another that would serve the people. That shouldn’t be a problem. This is what democracy is all about. I don’t think this calls for harassment and assault on democracy.”

The Lawmaker representing Ikorodu 1, Gbolahan Ogunleye, however, called for a high powered investigation of the invasion.

“I’m sad today. I have never thought a day like this would come when armed men would invade the Lagos Assembly. I implore the DSS DG to investigate this. I also call on President Bola Tinubu to intervene and bring the perpetrators to justice. This is, indeed, a rape on democracy,” he lamented.

Also, the lawmaker representing Kosofe 2, Femi Saheed, described the forceful entry into the Hallowed Chamber as an abuse of legislative rules and procedure.

He said: “It is an abuse of legislative rules and procedures. What we are here to do is to debate on issues that would move the society forward but what happened today is an aberration. We pride ourselves as the House that is above all standards but what happened today suggests that we need to call on the government to tell us if they have the right to tell us who to lead us. What happened today is an eye sore.”

Abiodun Tobun representing Epe 1 condemned the invasion, saying, “I condemn in totality the activities of security operatives. It is the voice of the people and not the government with a barrel of gun. Supremacy belongs to the people and that is what we are doing in the chamber. What is happening this morning is an aberration to democracy. We should not allow anarchy and harassment.

It is the activities of overzealous officers that want to impress some interests. We were given a mandate to represent the people and nobody should dictate how we operate. Nobody has the right to dictate to us what to do.

“When we chose the last speaker, nobody intervened, so when we decided to change leadership it shouldn’t be anybody’s business. If anybody feels aggrieved, such a person should approach the court of law and not for some officers to invade the chamber. This is an embarrassment to democracy, the National Assembly and the Federal government.”

Earlier, the acting Clerk of the House, Mr Taiwo Oshun, had read a letter from the State High Court informing the lawmakers of a pending lawsuit by the erstwhile Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

The lawmakers said they removed Obasa because they had had enough of his high-handedness, intimidation and servitude.

The lawmakers, however, called on the DSS to explain the reason for invading the state legislature, while also calling on the National Assembly to condemn the action.

The 36 lawmakers present at the plenary passed a vote of confidence on the Speaker, Mrs Meranda, who was emotional as she ruled on the motion.

The House later adjourned sitting indefinitely.