Tinubu wades into Lagos Assembly crisis, meets lawmakers at Villa
13 March 2025 |
5:18 am
President Bola Tinubu might have succeeded in resolving the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis following yesterday’s meeting with the 40 legislators, including the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and Mojisola Meranda, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Obasa, others mum over outcome
President Bola Tinubu might have succeeded in resolving the Lagos State House of Assembly crisis following yesterday’s meeting with the 40 legislators, including the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and Mojisola Meranda, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
Sources in the Villa said the discussion was fruitful as Tinubu calmed all nerves with the assurance that everybody’s interest would be protected. It was said that President Tinubu, having come to terms with the possible damages the lingering crisis in the Assembly might cause to his second term aspiration and how it is already dividing Lagos along indigenes and non-indigenes, was left with no choice but to quickly intervene and find a lasting solution to the crisis.
The lawmakers were enjoined to close ranks and desist from allowing external influence in their matter. Obasa declined comments after the closed-door meeting as he departed the State House via the alleyway.
The embattled Speaker had arrived at about 2:50 pm and was led separately to the President’s office, while his colleagues arrived earlier in two coaster buses.
Sources disclosed that the meeting connected with the recent leadership crisis in the State House of Assembly. Emerging from Tinubu’s office at about 4:30 p.m., members of the delegation were heard chorusing the lyrics “On your mandate, we shall stand…” For about five minutes, the lawmakers sang the political lyric commonly used by supporters of President Tinubu to affirm their loyalty to him.
Meanwhile, Obasa resisted prodding to speak to newsmen as he exited the Presidential Villa. He was joined by the lawmaker representing Ikeja Federal Constituency, James Faleke, and a protocol officer.
Recall that some of his colleagues impeached Speaker Obasa on January 13. Still, he was later reinstated on March 3, following the intervention of the political stakeholders of the Lagos ruling All Progressives Congress and the Governing Advisory Council (GAC).
His reinstatement was based on a tripartite agreement that Meranda, who was elected in his place, would resign to give Obasa a soft landing by being reinstated, after which he (Obasa), too, would resign.
But no sooner had Obasa assumed office on March 3 than he started accusing Meranda of misappropriating over N5 billion to purchase an SUV for her fellow lawmakers.
Beyond the allegations, Obasa also adjourned the plenary indefinitely, a decision some insiders claimed the Speaker could not have done on his own without backing from the top.
A member of the Assembly, who was in the meeting told The Guardian that Mr President had resolved the issue, and everybody is set to face their legislative assignment in the best interest of Lagos.
When also asked if the issue of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the intervention of the GAC were discussed at the meeting, the lawmaker responded, “You can see that we all came out smiling. We also sang popular lyrics, ‘On your mandate, we shall stand’. No matter what happened, the bulk stops at Mr President’s table.”
Meanwhile, when contacted, the Spokesman of Lagos APC, Seye Oladejo, said he has no details of the outcome of the meeting, “but to the best of my knowledge and from the feelers we heard, Mr President has succeeded in resolving the matter among the lawmakers.”
He also said it was unfortunate that some stakeholders within and outside the party wanted to turn the Assembly crisis into an indigene and non-indigene fight, which would be too dangerous, if not disastrous, for the state.
But in a separate interview with one of the GAC members, Bashorun Olorunfumi, a leader from Ikorodu, he expressed reservation over what Obasa did by trying to embarrass Meranda after he was reinstated, which was disrespectful to the agreement.
He exonerated the GAC members of meddling in the legislative affairs but quickly said, “If we cannot resolve the crisis in our House, why are we, elders?” Olorunfunmi also dismissed the allegation that the GAC was trying to use the Assembly crisis to divide Lagos along the indigeneship line.
According to him, “There are lots of lies flying around. There is no iota of truth in it. I also want to clarify that the GAC contacted the external body to intervene.
“To the best of my knowledge, there was nothing like that. I also want to say categorically that not every member of the GAC has been going to Mr President to seek favour for their children to get a position they are not entitled to. As for me, I have never done it, and it will never happen.”
However, he said he was unaware of the meeting between Mr President and the lawmakers until it was reported in the news. “My joy is that if the intervention of President Tinubu would bring peace and reconciliation among the lawmakers, that is a very good development.”
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