President Bola Tinubu
By Akeem Atoyebi
President Bola Tinubu is said to have resolved the leadership dispute in the Lagos State House of Assembly, supporting the return of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker, in spite of an earlier recommendation for his resignation.
The resolution came after a meeting between Tinubu and all 40 lawmakers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, on Wednesday.
The President’s decision goes against the recommendations of a panel he had set up to mediate the crisis.
The panel, headed by former Osun State Governor, Chief Bisi Akande, and former Ogun State Governor, Chief Gbenga Daniel, along with the leadership of the Governance Advisory Council, had advised that Obasa should step down after being reinstated.
The panel initially made a recommendation that Mojisola Meranda resign as Speaker to pave way for Obasa’s return, with the understanding that he would also resign shortly after, making way for a new Speaker from Lagos West to balance the state’s political structure.
On March 3, 2025, 49 days after Obasa’s impeachment, Meranda resigned and was re-elected as Deputy Speaker.
Obasa was then reinstated as Speaker in line with the agreement.
However, in defiance of the gentleman agreement, Obasa adjourned the Assembly indefinitely and refused to resign as expected.
Obasa had been ousted on January 13, 2025, by 35 lawmakers, who pointed to his high-handedness, financial misappropriation, and authoritarian leadership as reasons for his ouster.
Meranda replaced him but later resigned under pressure from party leaders.
On Wednesday , report said the lawmakers arrived at the Presidential Villa in Abuja in a Coaster bus around 2 pm, after which security officials ushered them into the President’s office complex.
Meranda arrived with her colleagues, while Obasa arrived separately at about 3 pm.
The parley took place behind closed doors. A Presidency official, who spoke anonymously for lack of authorisation noted that Tinubu had brokered peace among the warring factions, asking members to work with Obasa to ensure stability in the Assembly and the state.
“Tinubu met the lawmakers behind closed-doors. They spoke on their grievances and the President has resolved the problems.
“With the development, Obasa will stay as Speaker. His position is no longer threatened. All the lawmakers have agreed to work with him.
“They all had a photo session with the President after the meeting. It went well,” the source said.
While some Lagos stakeholders are displeased that the original agreement was not upheld, the source assured that the President would engage all aggrieved parties to maintain unity.
“Some stakeholders are naturally displeased Obasa reneged on the agreement with the Akande panel. I’m sure the President would engage everyone to settle the matter,” the source added.
