Lagos Assembly denies Tinubu’s involvement in crisis

Forum urges Speaker Meranda to step down if unable to lead

Lagos State House of Assembly has debunked an online report alleging that the president’s wife, Oluremi Tinubu, is influencing the ongoing internal crisis within the House.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode, the Assembly described the claim as false, baseless and misleading. Ogundipe added that all members of the Assembly hold the First Lady in the highest regard.

“It is, therefore, inconceivable that any member of the Assembly would accuse her of involvement in legislative matters or seek to tarnish her reputation. We firmly state that the First Lady has no role in internal disagreements within the House. Any attempt to link her to these issues is entirely unfounded,” he said.

Meanwhile, a group, the Eti-Osa Bar Forum, has called on the Speaker of the House, Mojisola Meranda, to step down if she is unable to effectively lead the legislative body.

Chairman of the Forum, Oladotun Hassan, said this during an interview with ARISE NEWS, yesterday, while discussing the chaos that erupted at the Assembly on Monday. Hassan emphasised that leadership should not be driven by emotions but by a commitment to fulfilling constitutional duties with strength and integrity.

“What happened yesterday ought not to be and I don’t think it’s a matter of gender. It’s about asserting her legal duty, not about crying. I don’t believe in the sentiment of shedding tears. It’s a matter of your duty. She needs to rise up and continue the office duty.

“Lagos cannot be shut down sine die. You have been invited to lead by constitutional matter. What brought Meranda was because she was elected alongside MudashiruObasa to lead the House as a functionary member of the House.”

Hassan strongly criticised the current state of affairs within the Assembly, questioning the legitimacy of Obasa’s continued claim to the Speakership. He said that Meranda was duly elected and should either rise to the challenge or step aside for a more capable leader.