Truce is still out of sight in respect of the crisis rocking Lagos State House of Assembly arising from Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa’s removal as Speaker.
The January 13 decision of 32 lawmakers to remove Obasa from the exalted seat and elected Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda into the office has been met with opposition from the erstwhile Speaker and members of Mandate, one of the two political groups in the All Progressives Congress in Lagos, the other being Justice Forum.
Senator Anthony Adefuye and Chief M.A Taiwo, two Mandate members in the Governance Advisory Council, GAC, took turn to criticise the impeachment of the lawmaker representing Agege Constituency 1 describing the process as “illegal.”
Their position, according to certain report gained support of President Bola Tinubu.
Tinubu is said to have described Obasa’s removal as “coup” and ordered Meranda’s resignation and the reinstatement of Obasa, pending the time a new Speaker will be elected.
The presidential order, according to updates is facing resistance from the quarter of members of Justice Forum in GAC under the leadership of Prince Tajudeen Olusi.
Report about what went down at GAC meeting held on Monday at the State House, Marina, has emerged.
The meeting purpose was reportedly to effect the presidential order.
Sources stated that Prince Olusi who is GAC Chairman and leader of Justice Forum, took a different course from the one laid down by the President.
“As usual Baba Olusi presided over the meeting and said things contrary to the President’s directive.
“His statement riled Senator Ganiyu Solomon, a member of Mandate who told him he was misrepresenting what the president said.
“The divergent positions of the leaders concerning the presidential order escalated as the meeting ended in a stalemate” the source narrated.
Another revelation suggests that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose relationship with Obasa is strained is complicit in the stance against Obasa’s reinstatement in line with Tinubu’s instruction to return him to his previous office temporarily to enable a friendly transition.
“Tinubu’s instruction does not also sit well with Governor Sanwo-Olu, but he doesn’t want to be seen to be challenging the president’s authority openly.
“His mutiny is done under the table. A proof of this, is the meeting he had with Mandate members on Sunday where he was honest with them on the stance of Mr President.
“That same day, he met with some lawmakers to encourage them to continue to fight against any plan to return Obasa as Speaker,” the source added.
Meanwhile, there’s allegedly disquiet in the camp of those against the presidential order.
“They are not comfortable with the order and are working tirelessly to scuttle it by fair means of foul.
“Political protest has started on Lagos Island where the new Speaker, Meranda, is from. The protest has the imprimatur of some top Lagosians. They want the status quo to be maintained,” this medium was told.