How i faced investigative panel during 8th Assembly- Desmond Elliott, lawmaker.

How i faced investigative panel during 8th Assembly- Desmond Elliott, lawmaker.

The Member representing Surulere 1 Constituency in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mr Desmond Elliott, speaks with MUDIAGA AFFE on the crisis rocking the House and the relationship with the Executive arm of government, among other issues

The House had since the leadership of Adeyemi Ikuforiji till date been engulfed in one form of crisis or the other, what could be the reasons for this?

I want to look at it from a broader spectrum; I will use the United States as an example. In a state where a form of growth is taking place, there are bound to be accusations and counter-accusations. CNN is always against the views of President Donald Trump, while Fox News is always on his side. The point is that we hear him say that the economy is moving and we are working. Also, in the Lagos State House of Assembly, it is not uncommon that you will not find one or two comments especially when you are trying to adequately dispense the functions of the law. I was not here during the era of Ikuforiji but I knew of things that happened and do not forget that we had our ‘autonomy’ a long time before now. So, we were already operating irrespective of the Executive. It is not uncommon to find this kind of thing happening. It is okay to have controversies, but what is the outcome? Was anyone found guilty? When all these controversies come, at the end of the day, it goes because there are no cases.

Some key lawmakers in the House were recently suspended, even though a lot has been said in the public domain, as an insider how would you describe what happened?

What the Speaker (Mudashiru Obasa) and the House said was that it was insubordination that led to their being suspended. I do not know what else to say than insubordination. In issues of suspension, there must have been warnings, whatever your conducts are. This is an institution, you must adhere strictly to rules. I have been subjected to the disciplinary process when I missed my step in the past. I was called to order and went through an investigation panel in the 8th Assembly, it was a very serious case, but I had to retrace my steps. The truth is that if you are in an institution you must abide by the rules or standing order.

One of the allegations against the Speaker is highhandedness. Has this changed?

When we hear of highhandedness and arrogance, I keep wondering. I am wondering why these complaints because as a lawmaker, you are overwhelmed with pressure of work and for that of the Speaker, it is times four. You have the state on you, your colleagues, your constituency, and the management of the House. He was able to manage the 8th Assembly and he is doing the same with the 9th Assembly, nobody is perfect, but for me, I believe he (Speaker) is just. I do not see him as being highhanded.

Are you aware of some corruption allegations levelled against him by an online medium? To what extent do you know about companies linked with him being allegedly given juicy contracts in the Assembly?

Yes, like every other Nigerian and Lagosians, we read about the allegations online. However, on Monday during plenary, the Speaker said he does not have any of the listed companies working with the House. He challenged the online medium to carry out a thorough investigation of the matter. It is not enough to use one piece of paper as evidence for a story, as an investigative reporter, the accused was not even asked to respond to the allegations in the story that was published. I did not even read in the story of efforts made to get the response of the Speaker regarding the allegation as would have been the case in a balanced story. It was a one-sided report.

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