Afresh crisis has erupted in the Lagos State House of Assembly as lawmakers have openly rejected the reinstatement claims of impeached Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, calling his return a “charade” and an “embarrassment.”
Speaking to journalists at the Assembly Complex on Thursday, the lawmakers reaffirmed their loyalty to Speaker Mojisola Meranda and demanded respect from the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership over the unfolding power struggle.
Speaking for the lawmakers, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, said, “This is Lagos, and this is the Lagos State House of Assembly. We were approached by our leaders that we should remain calm and take things easy. But we are shocked to see what happened today.”
The lawmaker further expressed outrage over their treatment at the Assembly gate, describing the situation as disrespectful.
“We are not happy. We are shocked to see what is happening despite that this is Lagos. This is the centre of excellence. This is where everything starts and stops. We are law-abiding. We have not done anything against the state or against anybody.
“But we also want to be respected, to be given our dignity, to be shown that we are elected. So I am unhappy with the leadership of our party that we cannot continue this way.
“They have taken us to court. And it is for us to let the process follow its due course. But what we are seeing today is a charade. It’s uncalled for. It is an embarrassment because, for me to even enter the gate, I was stopped.”
The controversy deepened on Thursday when Obasa stormed the Assembly Complex under heavy security, accompanied by police officers and operatives of the State Security Service (SSS).
“I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” Obasa declared upon his arrival, dismissing his earlier impeachment.
SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Obasa’s security details, which were withdrawn after his removal, had been restored, while the security aides attached to Speaker Meranda were taken away, raising concerns for her safety.
Sources within Meranda’s camp confirmed that Obasa arrived at the Assembly with thugs and armed policemen, further escalating tensions.
“Yes, Obasa is presently at the complex with thugs and armed policemen. We are observing what he is doing. But all indications show that he wants to illegally reinstate himself,” a source told SaharaReporters.
The crisis comes on the heels of a National Industrial Court ruling in Lagos that recently sacked the acting Clerk of the House, Ottun Babatunde, who was appointed by Speaker Meranda, and ordered the reinstatement of Olalekan Onafeko, the former clerk under Obasa.
The ruling has fuelled an already volatile power struggle within the Assembly, with Obasa, who was removed while on a trip to the US, refusing to accept his ouster.
As the battle for control of the Lagos Assembly intensifies, lawmakers are demanding that the APC leadership address their concerns directly rather than allowing what they describe as a political charade to continue.
“We have said it clearly, we are not against the leadership’s decision, but they should call us and tell us to our face and not let us hear rumours,” another lawmaker stated.
