Modupe Gbadeyanka
**Says Minority Leadership Exclusion Democratic Tyranny
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Founder of Ibile Peaceful Assembly, Honourable Saheed Mosadoluwa fondly called Saheed Ibile or Mr Ibile, has described the exclusion of the minority leadership in the Lagos State House of Assembly as undemocratic.
Mr Ibile was reacting to an alleged recent statement credited to Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, Publicity and Security, Mr Tunde Braimoh, that the of offices of Minority Leader and Minority Whip in the Assembly were no longer necessary.
The philanthropist described the alleged statement as “a troubling conundrum,” explaining that, “We are not saying majority rule is not necessary for expressing the popular will and the basis for establishing their deceptive and progressive’s campaign but minority is bound to disagree on any anti-people ideal of the majority.”
He asked the lawmaker to consider leaving the position.
“It is time to compel Mr Buraimoh to resign as spokesman of the Lagos Assembly because he uses the position to send deceptive information to the public,” Mr Ibile said.
He said the Lagos Assembly must understand that the consensus cannot be the basis for making political or legislative decisions because minority rule is antithetical to democracy.
“Is this Lagos State House of Assembly or fascist organization? I have not heard of any state Assembly without minority leaders will surely pave way for executive arm reckless and rascality, APC members should not abuse its powers to oppress the minority voters that send some of these traitors to that chamber to represent their communities,” he submitted.
Speaking on the defection of six members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC, Mr Ibile noted that PDP members in their constituents were not consulted before the move. He said the decamped PDP lawmakers were only fascinated with benefits enjoyed by their APC colleagues.
“I would advise that someone should stand as a minority leader to represent the will of the minorities’ votes. We should stop being economical with the truth,” he said.
He urged the Speaker, Mr Mudashiru Obasa, his loyalists and APC leaders to understand the dangers of tyranny in legislature which should also be “condemned by Lagosians.”
Furthermore, he said the legislature must not only guard Lagosians against oppression and deceptive progressive campaigners, but give room for minority to thrive.
The minority’s rights must be protected no matter how alienated a minority is from the majority members of Lagos Assembly; otherwise, the majority’s rights may lose its meaning, he said.
He pointed out that the Ibile Peaceful Assembly will stage a protest against this, saying that, “We will resist the imposed regimentation of thought and values as the voice of the minority must be heard.”
