The 2023 presidential candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has condemned the invasion of the Lagos State House of Assembly by the operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
DSS operatives earlier today stormed the Lagos Assembly Complex, denying the new Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda entry into her office, while the lawmakers and staff converged to show support.
Thelensng reports that the members of the Assembly on January 13, 2025 impeached the former Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa over allegations of fraud and abuse of power while he was away in America.
Obasa’s impeachment has brought about mixed reactions among the members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC). The GAC is an apex political decision making body in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.
The former Speaker has maintained that his impeachment was “illegal” and recently sued the Lagos lawmakers and Meranda at the Ikeja Division of the State High Court.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had hosted Meranda a month ago, committing to harmonised leadership so as to ensure that Lagos remains a model of excellence in governance.
However, Atiku, reacting to the invasion by the DSS on X (formerly Twitter), described it as “utterly reprehensible”, noting that the act has endangered Nigeria’s democracy.
He wrote: “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 full and thorough investigation.
“It is bewildering that the invading operatives reportedly have a mandate to enforce a leadership change in the House. It is appalling that it is those who claimed to have fought for democracy that decided to sanction this crass desecration of the state’s foremost legislative body, and by so doing, putting our hard-earned democracy in jeopardy.
“This act is an attack on the sanctity of democracy and a landmark of indignity to the Nigerian electorate, especially the people of Lagos.”
The former Vice President explained that whatever may have caused the leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly is an undercurrent that is not abnormal in a system of democracy.
Atiku stressed that the purported invitation of armed security operatives for a conflict resolution in a parliament is an anathema that should be frowned upon and interrogated with all sense of urgency.
He added: “Tinubu should focus on bringing Nigeria out of the mess he plunged the country into rather than interfering in the state matters.”
