The Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Godwin Osiyi, and three other principal officers of the House were on Wednesday attacked by suspected thugs loyal to the impeached speaker, Momoh Jimoh.
The thugs invaded the Riverton Hotel, Lokoja, venue of a meeting held by members of Osiyi’s group.
According to eyewitnesses, thugs armed with machetes, and other weapons damaged the official vehicles of the Speaker and those of other principal officers present at the meeting.
It was learnt that the official vehicle of the Majority Leader, Prince Kolawole Matthew, that of the factional Deputy Speaker, John Abah, and another vehicle belonging to a member representing Ofu were badly damaged by the thugs.
The factional Speaker, who addressed journalists after the incident, accused the impeached Lawal of orchestrating the attack on him and his members.
He alleged that the thugs arrived at the hotel in an official Hilux van belonging to the impeached speaker, adding that the hoodlums were led by a younger brother of the embattled Speaker.
According to Osiyi, “We have informed the police and the Department of State Services of our members since the impeachment saga of last Thursday.”
“We have been moving 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. When we came out, we saw our vehicles vandalised.”
He said the majority leader 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 against them.
But the embattled Speaker denied having a 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 its entirety. I have been in my house since morning and I don’t know what happened at Reverton. I’m not part of want happened there,” he said
He also exonerated his brother from the attack, describing him as a decent person who will not engage in anything violent.
“My younger brother is a decent person and could not have led the attack as alleged. The allegations were meant to tarnish my good image,” he added.
PUNCH.
