Mojisola Meranda
By Akeem Atoyebi
The speakership tussle bedeviling the Lagos State House of Assembly may be settled soon as the intervention of the top APC leaders may be leading to a resolution.
The impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa and the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, according to reliable sources may be persuaded to step down for another lawmaker to lead the House.
The development comes on the heels of intervention of the APC bigwigs, notably former governors of Osun, Ogun and Lagos states, namely Chief Bisi Akande, Segun Osoba, and Akinwunmi Ambode, respectively, among others.
The high-powered APC delegation was directed by President Bola Tinubu to resolve the political tension at the Lagos Assembly, following the inability of the Governance Advisory Council to find a solution.
The crisis began at the House on January 13, 2025, when about 36 lawmakers removed Obasa as speaker and replaced him with Meranda, the then-deputy speaker.
Over 90 per cent of the lawmakers accused the impeached speaker of poor leadership style, perpetual lateness to legislative sections and plenary, high-handedness and disregard for colleague lawmakers and the executive, especially the governor, abuse of office and privileges, intimidation and oppression of members, misappropriation, among others.
Obasa, who was away in Atlanta, United States, when he was removed, had since faulted his removal and insisted he was still the speaker, even as his colleagues in the House remained adamant.
“My status in the house? I strongly believe I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it,” Obasa said while addressing newsmen on Saturday, January 25, 2025.
On Sunday, Osoba, Ambode, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and all the GAC members met at the Governor’s Lodge in Marina over the crisis, to find a lasting solution.
