Lagos State House of Assembly complex
Eko Hot Blog reports that Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take “major steps” to avert the planned nationwide protest in the state.
The state lawmakers made the call on Thursday in a ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ brought by Majority Leader Noheem Adams.
Adams noted the devastation caused by the EndSARS protest of 2020 in Lagos and urged the governor to organise townhall meetings with major stakeholders to fashion out ways to calm the youth and those who plan to support proposed protest.
Recall that during the #EndSARS protests in 2020, hoodlums allegedly sponsored by the state governments attacked protesters around the house of assembly gate in Ikeja, the state capital.
Although the state government denied the allegations, thugs who had alleged links with government and were caught on camera, were never arrested.
The heated protests culminated in soldiers, who are tasked with the country’s external security, shooting at unarmed protesters at the Lekki Toll Gate.
The state lawmakers are now seeking a repeat of the protests which were triggered by widespread police brutality.
According to the motion of the House, meetings should be held between the governor and elected political leaders including senators, members of the House of Representatives and state lawmakers while a second meeting should be held with traditional rulers, religious leaders, heads of market, those in the transport sectors and related stakeholders.
Speaker of Lagos House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa
Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said it is necessary for state governments to “do the needful to calm frayed nerves and ensure protection of lives and property.”
Obasa said Lagos is still grappling with the impact of the EndSARS protest just as he appealed to the youth to be patient with the government of Bola Tinubu that is “making effort to see a better Nigeria that would benefit the citizens.”
He commended the commissioner of police in Lagos, Adegoke Fayoade, for meeting with community heads over the planned protest.
Obasa called for an urgent meeting with all leaders, including religious, traditional and related organisations in the state for discussion that would help dissuade the youth from engaging in the protest.
Earlier in his motion, Hon. Adams (Eti-Osa 1) drew the attention of his colleagues to the planned protest.
“I want to plead with our people to shelve this protest,” he said noting that Tinubu had “shown that he is ready to listen to the citizens, especially as he has raised the minimum wage from N30,000 to N70,000.”
On his part, Hon. Kehinde Joseph expressed worry that the proposed protesters do not have leaders who can be discussed with.
He urged for patience stressing that whatever is happening in the country “affects us all.”
Also, Hon. Sa’ad Olumoh said Tinubu understands the problem in Nigeria and was taking the right steps against the country’s collapse.
He also urged Nigerians to start focusing on governors because federal allocations to states have grown under the president.
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