There is no directive from President Bola Tinubu instructing members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to reinstate embattled former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, a source confirmed to THE WHISTLER on Monday.
A report had claimed on Sunday that Tinubu was pressuring lawmakers to reinstate Obasa as Speaker, citing anonymous sources.
Obasa was removed three weeks ago by his colleagues over allegations of misconduct and was replaced by Mojisola Meranda, who previously served as Deputy Speaker.
The report alleged that Tinubu told lawmakers over the weekend that the political consequences of Obasa’s removal could outweigh the benefits of punishing his alleged excesses.
“The president has sent instructions that we should start preparing to let him come back,” the report quoted a politician who attended meetings over the weekend as saying.
“The president said Obasa will spend only a short time before resigning on his own terms.”
However, a key politician within the All Progressives Congress (APC) told THE WHISTLER that there was no truth to the report.
“It’s not true,” the source said, dismissing the claim as a “mere fable.”
At a welcome event held in his honour at Ikeja GRA on January 25, Obasa insisted that he remained the legitimate Speaker despite his impeachment. He argued that the process did not follow constitutional procedures and stated that he would only accept his removal if done properly.
“I strongly believe I am still the speaker until the right thing has been done. If you want to remove me, remove me the proper way and I will not contest it.
“I’m a Muslim and I believe in fate. But let’s do it the way it should be done,” Obasa said.
However, the Lagos State House of Assembly dismissed his claims. In a statement signed by Ogundipe Olukayode, the Assembly described Obasa’s position as “uncalled for and unparliamentary.”
“It is imperative to clarify that over 2/3 of the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are solidly united behind the new Speaker, Rt Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, therefore we stood by the decision taken on the 13th of January where Rt Hon Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached and we shall defend our positions to the latter.
“As elected representatives of the people of Lagos, we owe them good governance and harmonious relationship with other arms of government.
“The position of the House remains the same and nothing has changed. The position being canvassed by former Speaker, Rt Hon Obasa is uncalled for and unparliamentary,” the statement read in part.
On Thursday, over 20 members of the Assembly stormed the Lagos Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Shangisha in protest over the detention of two of their colleagues.
The two lawmakers, Lanre Afinni and Sylvester Ogunkelu, were reportedly invited by the DSS for allegedly breaking into the Clerk of the House’s office to seize the mace used in Obasa’s impeachment.
However, they were later released following the intervention of their colleagues.
Meanwhile, members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the APC in Lagos, are divided over Obasa’s impeachment.
It was gathered that an emergency meeting was set to be held on Monday to address the leadership crisis in the state House of Assembly.
The meeting is scheduled to take place at Lagos House, Marina—the official residence of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The council is chaired by Pa Tajudeen Olusi, with Tinubu serving as its lifetime patron.
