By Didimoko A. Didimoko
The crisis at the Lagos State House of Assembly took a dramatic twist on Monday when the deposed Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa staged a defiant comeback as Speaker, after the resignation of Mojisola Meranda, who stepped down with immediate effect.
Obasa was impeached by the lawmakers in January over several allegations, including poor leadership, lateness to sessions, abuse of power, and intimidation of his colleagues. Over 90% of the lawmakers supported his impeachment.
It was gathered that the stage for Obasa’s dramatic return was set last when he stormed the assembly in Alausa, Ikeja, backed by a retinue of security operatives and alleged thugs.
Hours before his arrival at the assembly, the state police command had stripped Meranda of her security details, leading to an alarm by the former Speaker that she was open to attack.
Security operatives had also withdrawn their operatives securing the assembly, leading to speculations that the embattled deposed speaker was backed by strong political forces.
Meanwhile, prominent All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders, including former governors Bisi Akande of Osun, Segun Osoba of Ogun, and Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos, had earlier stepped in following a directive from President Bola Tinubu.
It was gathered that the dramatic resignation of Meranda and the reemergence of Obasa was the result of the high-powered negotiation by APC power broker both within and outside the state.
After a reconciliation meeting with all lawmakers on Monday, Meranda announced her resignation, along with other top officials of the Assembly. “This is a notice of resignation as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,” Meranda declared during the plenary session.
Following her resignation, Obasa was reinstated as Speaker of the House. During the plenary session, he expressed gratitude to the lawmakers and called for unity and collaboration within the Assembly.
