The Factional Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Godwin Osiyi was, Wednesday, attacked by suspected thugs who smashed his official vehicle and those of three other members in his group.
Vanguard 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.
The official vehicle of the majority Leader, Prince Matthew Kolawole; that of the factional deputy Speaker, John Abah and another vehicle belonging to member representing Ofu were badly damaged by the thugs.
Vehicles vandalized at the hotel
Addressing journalists after the incident, the factional Speaker, Godwin Osiyi alleged that loyalists of the allegedly impeached Speaker, orchestrated the attack on him and his members.
“The thugs arrived the hotels in an official hilux van belonging to the ‘impeached’ Speaker, Momoh Jimoh. The thugs were led by a younger brother to the embattled speaker.
“There have been series of threats of attack on my members after the impeachment saga that happened at the assembly last Thursday, a situation that have made me wrote 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.
Osiyi said the Majority Leader, Prince Matthew 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.
“Members of my group remained resolute and would not be intimidated to back down by any amount of threats. We have already lodged a report 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 want happened there”, he said.
MomohLawal said the state governor, Capt. Idris Wada had 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.
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