Senate invasion, rape on democracy – Lagos Speaker

Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday called for thorough investigation into last week’s invasion of the Senate by thugs who made away with the mace, the symbol of authority at the upper chamber. The House condemned the act in its entirety describing it as a rape on the nation’s democracy.

The lawmaker’s emergence at the Upper Chamber had occurred same time when suspected thugs invaded the Senate chamber while plenary was ongoing and made away with the mace.

Though the mace has been found and returned to the red chamber, lawmakers at the Lagos Assembly condemned the act, saying it was a national embarrassment.

In a motion Under Matters of Urgent Public Importance moved by Hon. Moshood Oshun, the lawmaker called on his colleagues to identify with the Senate, saying security apparatus of the National Assembly should be properly beefed up to forestall a reoccurrence.

“Whether we like it or not, legislative arm is the most important. If anyone feels to rape an arm of government, it is a rape on democracy. What happened was an attack on democracy all over the world,” Oshun said.

While commending the Senate for its doggedness to continue the legislative business despite the invasion, the lawmaker described the theft of the mace as barbaric.

In his contribution, Hon. Bisi Yusuff who charged security operatives to be up in their duty wondered what would have happened if the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly was to be kidnapped.

“The internal security of the House should be independent of any other arm of government. The hallowed chamber is sacred. It should be well protected,” Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Muyiwa Humph stated.

In his own contribution, the Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade expressed believed that “the issue goes beyond the mace but simply means everybody in the Senate was not safe.”

Agunbiade however, charged that the woman Sergent-at-arms who got injured in the process of trying to protect the mace should be compensated.

The Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa who presided over the plenary, identified with the motion further enjoined his colleagues to condemn the act.

“I strongly support your position on the ugly incident that happened. It was a rape on democracy; it was an abuse of an arm of government. The security apparatus should be condemned, if they had been up and doing, they would have prevented it,” Obama stated.

The Speaker charged heads of government agencies to always respect the legislature whenever they were invited by the later, saying it would amount to disrespect if such invitations were not honoured. He thereafter,

directed the Clerk, Mr Azeez Sanni to write the Senate as a way of showing solidarity with the upper chamber.