By Jumoke Owoola The Governance Advisory Council (GAC) has finally spoken on the controversial Department of State Services (DSS) invasion ...
By Jumoke Owoola
According to Punch, the GAC Chairman, Chief Tajudeen Olusi, speaking in a telephone interview, clarified that the unfolding drama within the House was not orchestrated by the party or the council.
"Why don't you talk to those who are involved, those who were there—members of the House of Assembly, the police, the DSS? I have not gotten sufficient information. What’s happening today is not from the party; it’s not from the GAC,” Olusi stated.
Responding to speculations about President Bola Tinubu’s role in handling the crisis, Olusi noted that the President was out of the country when the incident occurred.
"Currently, the President is out of the country. Is that not correct? Has he returned? You’re aware that some time ago, the GAC was in Abuja to see the President, but unfortunately, he had to travel out for an urgent state matter. So what happened at the House today is not the affair of the party.
"We as a party or as GAC shall speak at the appropriate time. It’s not that we don’t want to address the press or the public, but we will do so at the appropriate time. What’s happening, we were not part of it. I was not there, representatives of the party were not there, and we have not been properly briefed,” he added.
Another GAC member, Chief Muraina Taiwo, expressed concerns that the Assembly crisis had escalated beyond the council’s control and required the direct intervention of President Tinubu.
“The situation is not yet clear. The DSS said the acting Clerk invited them to guard the House against invasion, while the lawmakers are claiming they were there to prevent them from entering. The GAC’s power can no longer contain the crisis because if it could, the directive of the GAC would have been carried out,” Taiwo stated.
Dismissing speculations that Speaker Mudashiru Obasa was behind the invasion, Taiwo noted, "If he (Obasa) was behind the invasion, he would not have gone to court. The matter is already in court, so he would allow the judiciary to handle it.”
He also dismissed allegations of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s involvement in the crisis.
"In politics, the more you look, the less you see. What are they going to say the governor did wrong? I don’t see anything wrong in the actions of the governor.
"But they’re making these claims to ensure that the governor is not accused of backing or funding the lawmakers. There’s no evidence to suggest he is supporting them—it’s all politics,” Taiwo remarked.
Meanwhile, an aide to the governor, who preferred to remain anonymous, declined to comment on the situation when approached for a response.
As the crisis lingers, all eyes remain on President Tinubu and key political stakeholders to chart a path toward resolution.
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