LAGOS:The former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has declared that he has resumed his position as the leader of the parliament.
Obasa made the statement on Thursday, shortly after arriving at the assembly complex with police and State Security Service personnel, marking his first visit since his removal on January 13.
I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly,” Obasa told reporters at the House premises.
When asked if he had been reinstated as Speaker, Obasa responded, I’ve never been removed.
Impeachment or removal is democratic and constitutional, but it must follow due process. I am not against that; if I were, I wouldn’t be democratic.
According to Rapidospace Online, Obasa, accompanied by security officials, entered the Speaker’s office around 12 noon on Thursday.
This development followed the withdrawal of the security details assigned to the current Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
The assembly has been embroiled in a leadership crisis since Obasa’s removal and the election of Meranda as his replacement.
Obasa faced accusations from over 90% of the lawmakers, citing poor leadership, habitual lateness to sessions, high handedness, disregard for fellow lawmakers and the executive, including the governor, abuse of office, and oppression of members.
In efforts to resolve the crisis, several prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, including former governors Bisi Akande (Osun), Segun Osoba (Ogun), and Akinwunmi Ambode (Lagos), held a series of meetings last weekend with political stakeholders in the state, including assembly members, on the directive of President Bola Tinubu.
rapidospace learned that as a result of these meetings, both Obasa and Meranda may step aside in favour of another lawmaker to take the leadership role.
Chief Muraina Taiwo, a member of the Governors Advisory Council, noted that one of the seven lawmakers from Lagos West is being considered as the new Speaker.
