•Obasa returns with security operatives, declares self speaker •Holds plenary with four members
•36 lawmakers say he stands removed, want APC leaders to communicate stand
•Police withdraw, restore Meranda’s security details
THERE was a dramatic twist in the Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday, about 45 days after its speaker, Honourable Mudashiru Obasa, was removed and replaced with his deputy, Honourable Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.
The confusion in the House was underscored by the alarm raised by Honourable Lasbat Meranda that her security details had been removed, while Honourable Obasa zoomed in to take back the seat of speaker escorted by security aides.
Besides, whereas the camp of the new speaker insisted that there was no going back on the January 13 removal, the embattled hitherto speaker held plenary with just four out of the 36-member Assembly.
The turn of events also included the restoration of the security details of Honourable Lasbat Merada at press time on Thursday.
The spokesperson for the new speaker, Mr Ganzallo Victor had said all security aides attached to her had been withdrawn.
In a statement issued to newsmen, her aide equally claimed that the security apparatus attached to the Assembly had also been withdrawn.
“We don’t know why the authorities have done that but all the police officers and other security details attached to her have been withdrawn. She’s on her own at the moment, he said.
At precisely 12:05 pm thereafter, impeached Speaker Obasa arrived the Complex with heavy security personnel that comprised more than 11 police of-ficers and headed straight to the Speaker’s Office, snubbing his colleagues who were gathered at the garden deliberating on next steps.
In a jiffy, a group of his supporters stormed the Assembly gate and chanted: “On your mandate we shall stand, Muda, with placards displaying his pictures and that of President Bola Tinubu.
Consequently, the Nigerian Tribune learnt that members of staff of the assembly were asked by their direct bosses to go home due to the looming breakdown of law and order.
Amid the bedlam, Obasa presided over the State House of Assembly’s session with of just four members in attendance.
He objected to the decision of the assembly to remove him on the grounds that the process was illegal and that the matter was already in court.
At the plenary were Honourable Nuraini Akinsanya, Honourable Yinka Eso, Honourable Jubreel Kareem, and Honourable Noheem Adams.
In his own remark, the impeached Majority Leader, Honourable Adams, lavished praises on Obasa and moved the motion for the postponement of the sitting due to power failure.
In a quick succession while addressing the newsmen, Obasa insisted he remained the speaker of the assembly, saying his removal was undemocratic and unconstitutional.
He explained that though he was not against being removed as speaker, the normal process should be followed.
This was just as he claimed that all his colleagues have been loyal, dedicated and committed to serve the people of Lagos
“I have never been removed. I have said this openly that the impeachment or removal was undemocratic and unconstitutional. To achieve that, you must follow the due process.
“I am not against being removed. If I do that, it means lam undemocratic.
“All we are saying is that let us go through the normal process to achieve that.
“I don’t have anything against anybody. All my colleagues have always been my brothers, loyal, dedicated and with strong commitment to serve the people of Lagos and we will continue to do it together,” he said.
Meanwhile, 36 members of the assembly have called on the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to communicate to them on their stand regarding the speakership tussle in the house as against rumours doing the rounds the public.
The spokesman of the house, Honourable Stephen Ogundipe stated this on behalf of the lawmakers while addressing the takeover of speaker’s office by the impeached Speaker Obasa in the early hours of Thursday.
Ogundipe noted that the party leaders approached them to remain calm while awaiting their leading, but that they were choked by the happenings on Thursday.
He assured that none of the entire members would take law into their own hands, appealing to their leaders that they could not continue this way.
“We are not against the leadership decision. But, they should call us and tell it to our face instead of rumours.
“l appreciate the press for being on duty despite the intimidation. This is Lagos and this is the Lagos State House of Assembly. We were approached by our leaders that we should remain calm and take things easy until they approach.
“But we are choked to see what is happening today.
“We are still expecting them to come and tell us what we have done wrong. We wont take laws into our hands just like i have told the staff. We all belong to different constituencies and we have our mandate.
“The leadership should speak with us on whatever might have happened and not this charade we are seeing.
“We have been law-abiding. We have not done anything out of way against the state or anybody.
“We also want to be respected and be given our dignity. We are appealing to the leadership of our party that we cannot continue this way,” he said.
The assembly spokesman described Thursday’s event in the House as uncalled for and an embarrassment.
Stephen said the court should be allowed to take its due course since it is an ongoing matter.
“The matter is in court and i think it is important to let the court take its due course.
“What we have seen today is a charade; it is uncalled for and an embarrassment.
“I was told I cannot enter the House of Assembly when coming to the office today,” he said.
Ogundipe said the support of the 36 lawmakers for Meranda was unwavering.
He said, “This is Lagos and this is Lagos State House of Assembly and we were approached by our leaders that we should remain calm and take things easy until they resolve the issue.
“It is an embarrassment that to even enter the gate we were stopped and told by security operatives that we cannot enter assembly. It is an embarrassment and this must stop.
“We are shocked to see what is happening today, and we are still expecting our leaders to come and tell us where we went wrong or what really went wrong.
“Before the intervention of our leaders, we won’t take laws into our hand just like I told the assembly’s staff that they should not take laws into their hands.
“This is Lagos and this is the centre of excellence. This is where everything starts and stops. We have been law-abiding, and I don’t think the 36 members have gone out of our way.
“So I am appealing to the leadership of our party that we cannot continue this way. We have been taken to court so due process should have been followed,” he said.
I can’t force lawmakers to attend, Obasa defends session with four members
The removed Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa has that he cannot force members to participate in the plenary.
Obasa, speaking on TVC while addressing concerns over the session’s legitimacy, said, “I can’t force people to attend plenary. How many of them were present? If they say four, the most important thing is that we held the session.”
The Assembly comprises 40 members.
Obasa said he remained the Speaker of the Assembly.
“I’m the Speaker; I remain the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly. When I became the Speaker, all my colleagues supported me,” he said.
Questioning the process that led to Mojisola Meranda’s emergence as Speaker, he asked, “How was Mojisola Meranda elected as Speaker? By breaking into the chambers?”
He reiterated that any attempt to remove him must comply with constitutional provisions.
“I want to believe that we are law-abiding. I’m not against removal, as they call it impeachment, but if you’re going to remove somebody, you must comply with the constitution,” he stated.
On the impact of the crisis on the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, Obasa dismissed speculations of division within the party.
“The APC is one family in Lagos, under the same roof. Our party is not divided under the chairmanship of Cornelius Ojelabi and under our leaders in the GAC,” he asserted.
He further downplayed any suggestions that the ongoing rift was linked to the 2027 governorship race.
“This issue has nothing to do with governorship ambition. Sanwo-Olu is doing well; no reasonable person should be thinking of governorship now. Sanwo-Olu has two more years,” he concluded.
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