By: Wale Ibrahim, Lokoja
Kogi State House of Assembly has called for immediate probe of the attack on some members by suspected hoodlums on 1st August, 2017.
Just as the Assembly also condemned the act, describing it as criminal which calls for proper investigation to be carried out by the House for necessary legislative action.
This followed a motion of urgent public importance moved by Victor Omofaye (APC Ijumu Constituency).
Omofaye noted that the chamber is supposed to be a safe place for the legislators to carry out their constitutional roles by making laws aimed at delivering maximum dividends of democracy to the people of the State with full protection of lives and other legislative staff.
According to him, “It is sad and unfortunate that while these hardworking lawmakers were sitting on the 1st of August, 2017, yet to be identified thugs turned the hallow chamber and the Assembly complex into theatre of war, assault some Honourable members physically while others have to look for escape routes for safety after been subjected to physiological trauma by these men.
“This singular deed and action of these hoodlums on the Honourable members of the Kogi State House of Assembly is uncivilized, barbaric and should be checked, investigated, and condemned by a resolution of the house, because this act is capable of dragging the image of the House into the mud.”
Moses Ododo (APC Dekina Beraidu) while condemning the acts noted that the invasion of the house by suspected hoodlums is the first of its kind in the history of the hallow chamber in Kogi state.
“What happened in Nasarawa State and the National Assembly where lawmakers exchange punches is different from what happened in Kogi State. In the case of Kogi, thugs took over the place which has never happened since the creation of the state. No motion has been moved by any member to warrant such unspeakable act.”
The Speaker Prince Mathew Kolawole in his rulings pointed out that what happened that day beats the imagination of all the members.
“What happened that day could happen to anybody. So we are not supposed to keep quiet on such matter,” He said.
He however set up a five man committee to give an holistic report on the cause of the attack and report back in two weeks. The five member committee are Victor Omofaye (chairman), Hassan Abdullahi, Toyin Lawal, Lawi Ahmed, and Haruna Idoko.
