Obasa, Lagos Speaker gags the media, disbands Lagos Assembly’s press corps

The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt (Hon) Mudashiru Obasa, has disbanded the Assembly’s press corps association, known as Lagos State House of Assembly Correspondents Association (LAHACA).

The association comprises 31 accredited media organisations, including print, electronics and online.

The announcement, banning LAHACA was made by the Clerk of the House, Barr. Olalekan Onafeko on June 19, while addressing the executives of the association.

It was learnt that at the meeting with the executives of the association, the Clerk said that the directive to disband the Press Corps was from the leadership of the House after a parliamentary session held by the 40 lawmakers.

A sources who spoke with WesternPost, but did not want his name mentioned, said that the Clerk who reluctantly announced the decision of the lawmakers, said the journalists were accused of blackmail and reporting them in bad light. 

He added that the lawmakers accused the journalists of not having regards for them, adding that the newsmen often report confidential information about the legislators to the general public. 

“I am to inform you of the directive from the leadership of the Lagos State House of Assembly and the 40 lawmakers that LAHACA has been disbanded with immediate effect. Any of your members who have his or her belongings in the Press Centre should go to pick them because we are locking the office. You can be coming individually as journalist to cover plenary session for now. 

“There are several complaints about the activities of the journalists from the lawmakers. They said LAHACA members always write blackmailing stories about them if they don’t give them money. Many of the lawmakers at the parliamentary meeting brought out their phones to show their experiences with the journalists.  

“The lawmakers also say you journalists don’t have regard for them anymore and that you push out reports about their salaries, allowances and benefits to the general public. They are not happy with such reports. You know that politicians thrive on good image and reputation to get votes from the public. They felt reports like such would not go down well with them. 

“The House of Assembly created the Press Corps and can dissolve it. I don’t know if by tomorrow, the leadership of the House and the lawmakers rescind their decision, we can call you back or write to your respective media organisations to send new journalists because many of you have spent many years on this beat. 

“You can be coming to cover plenary as an individual. We don’t have problem with that. My own is to pass the directive across to you and then you inform your journalist colleagues of it. I can feel your pain and how it is to you but I must do my job as directed,” the Clerk said. 

Also at the meeting with the association’s executives were the Chief Press Secretary to Obasa, Mr Eromosele Ebhomele and the Director of Information and Public Affairs, Mrs Bisola Branco-Adekoya.

A former legislative staff who spoke with WESTERN POST, said that it was strange that such decision could be taken by the leadership of the House. According to him, the best the House could have done was to fish out those writing blackmailing stories rather than disbanding the media association. 

“The decision is strange to me. I can’t figure out why such damaging decision should be taken by the lawmakers. The media is an important part of the society and governance. They help to mould public opinion about the government and institutions of government. 

“The public have the right to know about the happenings in the House and the activities of the lawmakers because they were elected by the people. There is no justification to disband LAHACA. I met the association while in service and I left it when leaving public service. The accredited journalists are not only well experienced in legislative reporting but also know the in and out of the House of Assembly. This should not be a threat to the House leadership but a blessing,” he said.

Meanwhile, it was gathered that the Speaker had asked non-returning House of Assembly members to return their vehicles. 

This according to one of the non-returning members, is against established tradition of the House.

“We have  been asked to return our vehicles but we don’t understand why such decision should be made by the Speaker. This is totally against established tradition of the House. Those who left before us in 2019 did not return their vehicles. Why now?” one of the non-returning lawmakers said.