By Olajide Durowoju and Chukwudi Obasi
Amid a deepening leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s bid to see President Bola Tinubu has hit a brick wall.
Tinubu is said to be displeased with how Obasa was ousted, viewing it as a political coup, and is particularly unhappy that Governor Sanwo-Olu was aware of the unfolding events.
This development has deepened the rift within the state’s political structure, raising concerns about Meranda’s fate.
The source said, “Following the leadership struggle, he has made two unsuccessful attempts, which have been rebuffed. The President has refused to meet with him, which is not unconnected with the removal of Obasa and replacing him with Meranda.
“Twice, he has tried to see the President at home and in office, but it has not been successful in Abuja. The President felt Obasa should not have been removed in what looked like a coup and replaced him with Meranda. He is not happy that the Governor knew about all this,” the source said.
*Obasa: ‘I’m back, resumed duties’
Meanwhile, tensions were high at the Lagos State House of Assembly when the ousted Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, showed up at the Assembly Complex yesterday.
Obasa was accompanied by a retinue of armed, stern-looking uniformed security operatives as he walked into the hallowed chambers, where he had not been publicly seen since his removal as Lagos speaker on January 13, 2025.
In a show of solidarity, his supporters gathered at the Assembly Complex’s entrance gate, chanting and cheering on the lawmaker who represents Agege Constituency I in the 40-member House.
Before entering the complex, Obasa, who addressed journalists, said he had resumed as the speaker.
He sat with four Assembly members on a brief plenary.
Asked whether he had been reinstated as speaker, Obasa said, “I was on vacation, and I am here, which means that the House is on. There is nothing like impeachment, and I have said it openly.
“The impeachment or removal or whatever it is called is undemocratic and unconstitutional. But, to achieve that, you must follow the due process. I am not against being removed, and if I do that, then I am undemocratic, but we are saying let us go through the usual process to achieve that.
“I do not have anything against anybody; all my colleagues have always been my brothers, loyal, dedicated, and firmly committed to serving the people of Lagos, and we will continue to do that together.
“I have no reservation, nothing against anybody and no intention of victimisation. I do not have any case like removal in court. APC is a family party, everybody to their opinion. Obasa is the speaker”, he said.
Meanwhile, two of the 39 other lawmakers, Ayinde Akinsanya, popularly called Osmak, representing Mushin Constituency 1, and Noheem Adams, representing Mushin Constituency II, have been spotted accompanying Obasa to the complex.
The doors to the office of the Speaker were forced open by Obasa loyalists, with huge-chested thugs scattered over strategic places in the complex.
Also, some armed miscreants who accompanied Obasa to the complex were seen making threatening remarks and vowing to take possession of all the offices in the complex.
The access roads to the complex were taken over by people suspected to be Obasa’s thugs, who arrived at the scene in unmarked ‘kombi’ buses.
Motorists were directed to take alternative routes as all entrances were blocked to traffic.
*Speaker Meranda’s life under threat, says aide
Earlier in the day, police authorities withdrew all security details attached to Meranda and restored Obasa’s former security details.
In a statement signed by Victor Ganzallo, Special Adviser on Information to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, the Speaker’s life has been put in danger.
The statement read, “It is important to stress that Princess Mojisola Meranda was duly elected by her colleagues, and her leadership was reinforced with a decisive vote of confidence. The timing of the withdrawal of security, combined with the hostile actions of the former Speaker and his associates, raises the question: Is this politically motivated, or is this part of a larger strategy to destabilize the current administration?
“This troubling development is also noteworthy for what it might signify about the underlying gender dynamics. Could this act of aggression be a reflection of the deep-seated bias against female leadership in the political arena? Is Rt. Hon. Meranda’s role as a woman Speaker being used as a justification for such brazen intimidation and disruption?
“It has come to our attention that these actions are tied to the ongoing internal power struggle regarding the removal of the former Speaker. Speculation suggests that this latest move aims to weaken the current leadership and create instability within the state House of Assembly.
“We demand an immediate clarification from both the police and the state government on their roles in these actions. The absence of security for those in leadership positions raises serious questions about the safety and protection of public officials in Lagos. If such intimidation can occur at the highest levels, what protection is there for the ordinary citizens of Lagos?
“This situation must not be allowed to stand unchallenged. We call for a full investigation into these actions and demand accountability from all involved parties,” he said.
*Police restore Speakers security aides
However, late yesterday, the Lagos State Police Command said it had restored the security details of the Speaker of the state Assembly, Meranda.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the state Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, said four security personnel attached to the Speaker who were earlier on withdrawn have since been restored.
He said the withdrawal of the security details attached to the Speaker and other Very Important Personalities (VIPs) in the state was in line with an ongoing audit of Police personnel and firearms
He disclosed that the same audit is currently being conducted in other states’ Police Commands, not Lagos alone.
*Pro-Meranda lawmakers: ‘We stand by Madam Speaker’
Despite Obasa’s forceful takeover of the Speaker’s office, 36 of the 40-member Assembly have resolved to stand firmly behind Meranda.
The lawmakers, who had earlier on February 17, passed a vote of confidence on Meranda, dared all consequences to stand by their earlier decision.
A lawmaker who pleaded anonymity said he and his other colleagues are resolved to ensure their decision to remove Obasa stands.
“He was not elected as speaker from his constituency. We all endured his master-slave relationship for close to 10 years. Now, we have said enough is enough, and we are not looking back,” the lawmaker said.
Speaking, the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Mr. Stephen Ogundipe, appreciated the press for performing their duties in the face of humiliation.
This is Lagos, and this is the Lagos State House of Assembly. We will approach our leaders with the advice to remain calm and take things easy.
“We are shocked at what is happening today. They have to tell us where we went wrong. We will not take laws into our hands, just as we have also urged the staff members to not take laws into their hands.
“We all belong to different constituencies, and we have our mandate, and whatever happens, the leadership should speak with us and not this charade that we are seeing.
“We are not happy and shocked to see what is happening even though this is Lagos, the centre of excellence where everything starts and stops.
“We have been law-abiding and have not gone out of our way against the State or anybody. We have shown every sense of responsibility to show that we have been elected and appealing to the leadership of our party that we cannot continue this way.
“We have taken you to court, and it is for you to follow due process, but what we are seeing today is a charade.
“It is an embarrassment and uncalled for. For me, entering the gate of the House of Assembly was hell. I was stopped by security operatives and told I could not enter the Assembly. It is an embarrassment, and it must stop.
“We have said it clearly: we are not against the leadership’s decision, but they need to call and tell us to our faces and not to hear rumors. They should call us and not embarrass us this way.
