Kogi Assembly Saga: Thugs unleashes terror on factional lawmakers

By CHRISTIANA EKPA, Lokoja

Thugs suspected to be supporters of the embattled Speaker of Kogi State house of Assembly, Jimoh Lawal have unleased attacks on the factional speaker of Kogi assembly, Godwin Osiyi smashing his official vehicle along with  three members in his group.

National Daily gathered that the thugs armed with machetes and other weapons invaded Reverton Hotels, Lokoja where the factional speaker and some members of his group were having a meeting.

Our reporter  learnt that the official vehicle of the majority leader, Prince  Kolawole; the factional deputy speaker, John Abah and another vehicle belonging to member representing Ofu were badly damaged by the thugs.

Addressing journalists after the incident, the factional Speaker, Godwin Osiyi alleged that the thugs loyal to the allegedly impeached speaker, Momoh Jimoh Lawal orchestrated the attack on him and his members.

He alleged that the thugs arrived the hotels in an official Hilux van belonging to impeached Speaker, Momoh Jimoh, alleging that the thugs were led by a younger brother to the embattled speaker.

According to Osiyi, there have been series of threats of attack on its members after the impeachment saga that happened at the assembly last Thursday, a situation he said made him to write a petition to the Police and department of state services in the state.

“We have to be sleeping from one hotel to the other to avoid this ugly incident but naturally you cannot be roaming the streets. We were in the hotel when we started hearing gunshots and sounds of machetes. When we came out, we saw our vehicles vandalized”, he said.

He said the Majority Leader, Prince Kolawole had earlier in the day escaped attack from the suspected thugs while on his way to the bank, explaining that they were at the hotel to address the matter when another attack was launched on them.

Osiyi said members of its group remain resolute and would not be intimidated to back down by any amount of threats, adding the matter has been reported to the police.

But in a swift reaction, the embattled Speaker, Momoh Jimoh Lawal denied having any hand in the said attacks, saying he is a peaceful and humble person who does not believe in violence.

“I did not send anyone to go and attack anybody; I had no business there, I’m a humble person and I condemn it in entirety. I have been in my house since morning and I don’t know what happened at Reverton. I’m not part of what happened there”, he said.

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He said the state governor, Idris Wada called all the two groups together on Tuesday night to mediate in the impasse, adding that the governor had resolved the matter and urged them to work together.

“His Excellency had told us to be one house, that a house that is divided cannot stands. And because we are transiting to a new government now, we don’t want anything to happen. I’m not a party to any person that carried out the attack”,

Jimoh said his younger brother is a decent person and could not have led the said attack as alleged, adding that the allegations were meant to rundown his good image before the public.