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Breaking: Lagos Lawmakers Condemn Burning of Rivers Assembly Chamber
Breaking: Lagos Lawmakers Condemn Burning of Rivers Assembly Chamber
– want immediate reopening of Rivers Assembly
– call for autonomy for state legislatures
– urge IGP to ensure peace, protection of legislative chamber
Sahara Weekly Reports That Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday condemned the burning of the Rivers State legislative chamber by yet to be identified persons.
The members also condemned the alleged interference of the executive arm of government in the affairs of the state legislature saying that the constitution guarantees the independence of the legislature.
This was as the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who called in from an official trip outside the country, urged President Bola Tinubu to call on the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to reopen the parliament and protect the lawmakers while they perform their duties.
Obasa said the parliament must not be made a victim of political crisis among gladiators as witnessed in Edo, where the roof of the chamber was removed by the governor, and other states where such had happened in the past.
“The constitution must be adhered to at all times. Since the crisis started in the office of the governor, then there is no reason to lock up the Assembly. Even if the lawmakers have issues, they should be allowed to resolve such among themselves without interference from the executive arm.
“The removal of the sitting Speaker behind the door should not be tolerated because it is against the constitution. While we understand that impeachments are democratic, the constitutional procedures must be followed whether for a Speaker or a governor.
“Where did the lawmakers have the sitting where the Speaker was removed and at what time did the sitting hold? How many members voted against the sitting Speaker? The Rivers governor, in saving his neck, must not sacrifice the House of Assembly or turn the legislators against themselves.
“Again, it should be of note that a governor has no power to remove the Chief Judge of a state without the two-third support from lawmakers. Just as the office of the governor or Chief Judge cannot be sealed up, a House of Assembly should not be sealed up,” he said.
Dr. Obasa called on the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Rt. Hon. Tajudeen Abbas of the House of Representatives to urgently intervene to protect the Rivers Assembly and its members.
At plenary on Tuesday, members of the House also called on the governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, to adhere to the constitution by not meddling in the affairs of the House just as they further urged the Senate and the House of Representatives to rise up to the crisis.
The House urged the chairman of the Conference of Speakers, Rt. Hon. Debo Ogundoyin, to collaborate with his colleagues to condemn the act and fast-track the process of ensuring autonomy for state legislatures.
Raising the issue under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’, Hon. Desmond Elliot, representative of Surulere 1, said the attack on the chamber was an attack on the sanctity of the parliament, which is very important to democracy.
“How was a new Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly elected? If due process was not followed, we have to condemn it.
“The crisis in Rivers did not emanate from the House of Assembly, so why should it be burnt or closed down?” he asked.
Speaking on the issue, Deputy Majority Leader Richard Kasunmu said reports had it that the governor stormed the House just as he wondered how the new Speaker emerged from a faction of just eight members.
While noting that the Lagos State House of Assembly has always led by example, he expressed worry over the safety of the mace, which he described as the symbol of authority.
Condemning the act, Hon. Adewale Temitope (Ifako-Ijaiye 1), said it was disturbing how eight members could elect a Speaker.
“It is becoming a norm for the executive to interfere in the affairs of the legislature. And where this continues, you are calling for anarchy. I call on my colleagues to come together and solve whatever issues they have among themselves so that they can continue to serve the people,” he said.
Deputy Speaker Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who presided at the sitting, described the situation in Rivers as sad and heartbreaking.
“Our security agents should also ask questions because the Rivers Assembly is on the same street as the police command in the state. The parliament is the life of democratic government,” she noted.
Eromosele Ebhomele
Media Assistant to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
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Golden Nsogbu Unveils Nsogbu TV: The New Powerhouse Set to Shake Up Nigeria’s Entertainment Scene
Lagos is about to feel the heat as Nsogbu TV, a brand-new YouTube-based entertainment platform, officially launches with a bang! Founded by serial entrepreneur and music mogul David Ewofobe, popularly known as Golden Nsogbu, the channel is already making waves with promises to redefine the way fans consume music, comedy, and lifestyle content.
Described as a “Power House” for fresh talent and premium entertainment, Nsogbu TV is setting itself apart with an irresistible lineup of music videos, hilarious comedy skits, exclusive celebrity interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage fans won’t find anywhere else.
“We are not just creating a YouTube channel; we are building a global entertainment hub,” Golden Nsogbu declared. “From music lovers to comedy fans, there’s something for everyone. Nsogbu TV will soon be the name on everyone’s lips.”
And he isn’t doing it alone. Golden Nsogbu has teamed up with ace comedian IGoSave (Otaghware Otas Onodjayeke) as Creative Director, alongside a host of talented creators ready to take Nigerian entertainment to new heights.
The platform’s official teaser video, fittingly titled “POWER HOUSE🏠”, has already given fans a taste of what’s coming, sparking excitement across social media.
With its headquarters in Lagos, Nsogbu TV is positioning itself as a launchpad for young creatives while also delivering high-quality content that resonates with global audiences.
🎥 Check out Nsogbu TV’s launch video here: Watch Now
📺 Subscribe on YouTube: @NsogbuTV
Membership Drive — August: Month of Membership 2025/2026
By Prince Adeyemi Aseperi-Shonibare
Charter President, Rotary Club of Ikeja Alausa
“Friendship was the foundation rock on which Rotary was built and tolerance is the element which holds it together.” — Paul Harris, Founder of Rotary
This August, Rotary clubs worldwide celebrate Membership Month — a time to reflect on why we joined, how we serve, and who we will invite next. Membership is the heartbeat of Rotary. Without new minds, fresh energy, and diverse perspectives, even the most vibrant club risks losing momentum. If you have yet to invite a friend, colleague, or family member to join, you may be withholding one of life’s greatest gifts: the opportunity to serve humanity through fellowship.
Rotary is not just a meeting. It is a movement, a mindset, and a lifestyle of purpose — a passport to significance and a front-row seat to impact humanity.
We are 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries and territories, united by a single motto: Service Above Self. Membership begins with one simple act — an invitation.
“The true measure of a Rotarian’s leadership is not in holding a title, but in multiplying our tribe” “When everyone bring one, and you’ve changed a life. Bring many, and you’ve changed the world.”
Rotary’s 7 Areas of Focus: A Magnetic Invitation
The most compelling way to introduce someone to Rotary is through action. The 7 Areas of Focus are powerful entry points for potential members:
1. Peacebuilding and Conflict Prevention – Promoting dialogue, resolving disputes, and fostering understanding.
2. Disease Prevention and Treatment – Fighting polio, tackling malaria, and expanding access to healthcare.
3. Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene – Providing clean water and proper sanitation for healthier communities.
4. Maternal and Child Health – Reducing mortality and empowering mothers through quality care.
5. Basic Education and Literacy – Combating illiteracy and fostering lifelong learning.
6. Community Economic Development – Creating jobs, supporting entrepreneurship, and reducing poverty.
7. Supporting the Environment – Protecting ecosystems, promoting sustainability, and addressing climate change.
When people see Rotary in action — planting trees, building schools, equipping hospitals, or supporting mental health — they see a cause worth joining.
Meetings That Inspire
Rotary meetings should be engaging, uplifting, and relevant. Keep them concise and full of energy. Vary formats with outdoor fellowships, club visits, service days, and inspiring guest speakers. Hybrid meetings are vital in today’s busy world — reliable internet, quality audio-visual tools, and inclusivity ensure every member stays connected, even when attending from office or outside the country.
Caring for Our Own
A strong club does not only serve the community; it also cares for its members. Reach out to those who miss meetings. Make every member feel valued. Rotary is a family — and families look out for one another.
Why Members Leave — And Why They Stay
Members leave when they feel disengaged, meetings lack energy, onboarding is weak, culture is unwelcoming, or flexibility is absent.
Members stay when they find meaningful service, global fellowship, personal growth, flexible structures, and a shared purpose.
Inviting People Into Rotary
Lead by example. Share Rotary stories. Use social media. Invite community leaders. Showcase our projects in maternal health, peacebuilding, and the environment. Host open events. Involve families. Show them a project in action. And never underestimate the power of asking: “Would you like to join Rotary?”
The Benefits of Rotary
Rotary membership opens doors to global friendship, leadership growth, professional networks, international experiences, purposeful living, recognition, and the joy of leaving a legacy. As RI Past President Barry Rassin said: “Rotary is a gift. You don’t keep a gift this good to yourself.”
This Rotary year, let us shine our light brighter, welcome more members, and extend the most valuable gift — the invitation to a life of service and fellowship.
Be the reason someone says, “Joining Rotary changed my life.”
Come and join Rotary with me. See what we do, feel the fellowship, share in the service, and be part of a story bigger than yourself. Let every Rotarian bring at least one new member. My personal goal this year is to bring ten. It is possible, it is necessary, and it is how we keep the Rotary light shining.
Fellow Nigerians, and friends of Nigeria abroad,
They said the APC was not popular with the people. They said its strength was only in government houses, not in the marketplace, not in the villages, not in the hearts of men and women who rise each day to labor under the hot sun. Yet the people have now spoken, and their voice is louder than the rumors of social media, stronger than the whispers of drawing rooms.
In the bye-elections of this past weekend, sixteen seats were set before the people. Out of these, the APC took eleven, stretching across Kano, Kaduna, Jigawa, Taraba, Ogun, Kogi, Edo, Adamawa, and Niger. One more stands in contest, and there too the APC leads.
APGA secured two seats in Anambra. The PDP held one in Oyo. The NNPP claimed one in Kano. But the others—ADC, SDP, Labour—were nowhere to be found. Not a single seat fell their way.
So I ask: how do you define popularity? By the clamor on Facebook? By the trend on Instagram? By the fury of TikTok or the storms of X? No. Popularity in a democracy is measured by ballots cast, by hands inked, by real people walking to the polls to say with their vote: this is who we trust.
In America, they speak of midterm elections, a verdict passed halfway through a presidency. There, such elections measure the strength of the president and the staying power of his party. Nigeria has no midterm Congress. But these bye-elections, spread across thirteen states and five geopolitical zones, are our closest equivalent. And their meaning cannot be ignored.
Many thought the ADC, older in years than the APC, would rise with its new converts and prove itself a rival. Many thought the PDP would mount a strong wave. But the verdict of the ballot tells a different story. The PDP lives, but it fights to hold ground. The ADC, SDP, and Labour remain shadows, not yet substance. The NNPP, for all its color, remains a Kano river, not a national sea.
The APC, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has not only stood but has been endorsed. For all the cries, for all the bitter words against his reforms, the people have answered with their votes: they are willing to endure the hard medicine if it promises a better tomorrow.
What then is the road ahead? It is clear. The APC stands as the party to beat in 2027. The opposition must gather itself, must bind its wounds, must cease from fighting in fragments if it wishes to rise as a true alternative.
But for now, let it be recorded in the annals of our young democracy: that on the 16th of August, 2025, the Nigerian people spoke with ballots, not hashtags; with votes, not noise; with courage, not despair. And their verdict was plain.
The APC is not a party of rumor, but a party of the people.
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