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Obasa: Tinubu’s Abuja meeting fails to calm Lagos Assembly impasse as crisis deepens

Published

16 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Obasa: Tinubu’s Abuja meeting fails to calm Lagos Assembly impasse as crisis deepens

Despite President Bola Tinubu’s last Wednesday peace accord, brokered among two warring parties in the Lagos State House of Assembly, led by Mudashiru Obasa and Mojisola Meranda over speakership tussle, the development has failed to calm high tensions among lawmakers and stakeholders in the state.

Tinubu had, at the end of the meeting, directed aggrieved lawmakers to work with Obasa.

Obasa was ousted as Speaker on January 13, 2025 by about 35 of the 40 lawmakers over allegations of highhandedness, financial misappropriation, and despotic tendencies, among others, and was replaced by Meranda, who was his deputy before the impeachment.

The development generated a lot of conflict putting the House and Governance Advisory Council, GAC, the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state, party faithful, supporters, in disarray. The crisis prompted President Tinubu to draft a high-powered committee made up of Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba, among others, to finally arrived at a truce.

The panel subsequently, convinced Meranda to resign her position as the Speaker of the House after a deal reportedly agreed upon by all stakeholders who have been mediating to ensure that the crisis was put to rest.

Speculation had it that all the parties agreed on a deal which was for Meranda to resign while Obasa would be returned as Speaker and after 48 hours, would also resign his position. The arrangement, it was learnt, was to pave the way for a new Speaker from Lagos West as demanded by the 34 aggrieved lawmakers.

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After the peace deal and Meranda’s resignation, Obasa was subsequently re-nominated for the position of speakership by one of his loyalists in the House, Noheem Adam, a lawmaker representing Eti-Osa 1 and seconded by his colleague, Nureni Akinsanya, representing Mushin 1.

Obasa’s expected resignation

However, Obasa’s attempts to win back the lost loyalty of the aggrieved members hit a brick wall when he called for a truce meeting, a day after he was reluctantly re-elected. The aggrieved lawmakers felt betrayed by his action as they expected him to also tender his resignation in tandem with the agreed structure for settling the Assembly crisis permanently. Obasa’s action opened a kind of cold war in the Assembly which is currently on indefinite recess.

Resignation not part of agreement

Meanwhile, the APC in Lagos has said that the issue of possible resignation by the Speaker was not included in the terms of settlement reached to end the leadership crisis.

The party’s spokesman in the state, Seye Oladejo, told Sunday Vanguard that he was not aware of such an arrangement in the terms of settlement during the negotiation period by the party.

“To the best of my knowledge there was no time the arrangement for Obasa to resign came up in the terms of settlement of the crisis.

“To me, all this struggle is all about instance, before any candidate would emerge there must have been sacrifice by others”, Oladejo stated.

Crisis deepens

The crisis worsened recently following fresh controversy trailing the purchase of alleged N5 billion vehicles for 40 lawmakers by the then Speaker, Meranda, and now deputy Speaker.

The feud between re-elected Speaker Obasa and his deputy has continued to divide the Assembly, setting the two parties on a collision course.

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According to reports, Meranda, who presided over the legislative arm for 49 days, purportedly led the purchase of about 39 vehicles for the lawmakers during the period Obasa was removed.

It was learnt that Obasa had in December 2024 approved N7 billion for the same purpose of the vehicles before he was ousted on January 13, 2025.

The crisis further snowballed as Obasa dragged Meranda, 33 Lawmakers and the Assembly to the state High Court, challenging the basis for his removal and other allegations. Amid the legal battle is the contention between the duo over the purchase of the vehicles with money withdrawn from the assembly’s account.

A source who preferred anonymity told Sunday Vanguard that Obasa was contending the purchase of the vehicles without his authorisation as the Speaker and already had his plan of purchasing the vehicles from Dubai having contacted a bidder for the contract.

“He had approved the money before his removal. But Meranda proceeded with buying them, a move that infuriated Obasa,” an aide to Obasa who preferred anonymity confided in our reporter.

When contacted, Meranda’s Spokesperson, Victor Ganzallo, declined to make a comment, promising that an official statement would be issued in due course.

Also, a source loyal to Meranda stated that the first female Speaker only saved N2 billion by purchasing 32 units of 2025 Toyota Prado Sport Utility Vehicle, SUV and seven units of Toyota Landcruiser 2025 at the sum of N5 billion, rather than the N7 billion budgeted by Obasa.

“Unlike Obasa who had planned to import the vehicles from Dubai, all the cars were locally supplied. It is imperative to note that no money was withdrawn by Meranda, she only reviewed an existing approval.
“Interestingly, Meranda spent far less money to acquire better quality cars and didn’t even approve a single one for the office of the Speaker that she occupied,” the source stated.

Obasa’s resignation

A Lagos pro-indigeneship group, De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation, has urged Obasa to step down in the interest of democracy and the rule of law.

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The call was contained in a statement by the elders of the group, as a rejoinder to a recent statement by Dr. Muiz Banire, SAN, APC chieftain on the State Assembly crisis and intervention by Chief Bisi Akande-led peace committee.

Our position

“While we acknowledge and commend Dr Muiz Banire, SAN, for his willingness to weigh in on the crisis, we must, however, respectfully correct certain misrepresentations in his submission.

“Banire asserted that Chief Akande and Aremo Osoba were not “busybodies” but were rather invited by Lagos political stakeholders within the ineffectual GAC. However, we must emphasize that their intervention ultimately undermined the democratic aspirations of the Indigenous people of Lagos State,
“The decision to reinstate Speaker Mudashiru Obasa at the expense of Mojisola Meranda, an indigene, effectively disregarded the will of Lagosians from Epe, Badagry, Ikeja, Lagos, and Ikorodu divisions, who had overwhelmingly supported Meranda. The intervention of these external figures, therefore, dashed the hopes of Lagos indigenes and will be remembered in history as a betrayal of democratic principles.

“The most honourable course of action for Obasa is to step down in the interest of democracy and the rule of law. Having lost his grip on the Assembly, his continued leadership, enforced by external political forces, constitutes a threat to democratic integrity.”

In a similar incident, a pro-Lagos development group, Agenda for New Lagos, ANL, has raised the alarm over plans to use the court to invalidate Obasa’s impeachment as the Lagos State speaker.

In a statement by its Protem Chairman, Kamal Olorunnisola, the group alleged that the court judgment to make this happen has already been written and will be delivered after hearing the case instituted by Obasa in the heat of his impeachment saga. “Many of the Assembly members were tricked into accepting that Obasa would subsequently resign after Meranda. But unknown to them, it was just a political gimmick. As soon as he was ‘re-elected’ out of damage control, he adjourned indefinitely, obviously awaiting judgment in the case instituted to legitimise the illegalities.

“That explains why, contrary to the pledge to withdraw his case, it continued. They already have the judgment written invalidating the proceedings that removed him. All machinery has been put in place towards railroading the judge.

“Upon given the judgment, obviously wrong in law, Obasa will direct no appeal on behalf of the Assembly while Meranda is already out of the way.

“The import is that he had never been removed while Meranda was never a speaker. The further implication is that the removed clerk will equally return contrary to the resistance of his colleagues, as of right as no valid proceeding would have removed him.”

Obasa: Tinubu’s Abuja meeting fails to calm Lagos Assembly impasse as crisis deepens

Related Topics:Abuja meeting Lagos Assembly Tinubu

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Lagos to shut Independence Bridge-Marina road for two months, divert traffic

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Lagos to shut Independence Bridge-Marina road for two months, divert traffic

Lagos State Government says it will shut and divert traffic for emergency repairs on the Independence/Mekwen Bridge (inbound Marina/CMS route) for two months.

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Oluwaseun Osiyemi, said the emergency repair of the bridge would take place from Wednesday March 19 to Monday May 26, 2025.

He said the section of the road from the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) through Bonny Camp Bridge down to Independence Bridge would be closed to vehicular movement.

“Similarly, the Bonny Camp Underpass Bridge service lane inbound Independence Bridge would not be available for motorists.

However, the service lane from Ahmadu Bello Way to Ozumba Mbadiwe will be open to traffic,” the statement read.

“Motorists heading to Victoria Island from Ahmadu Bello Way are advised to use Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, and proceed to Falomo Roundabout, then link Obafemi Awolowo Road to access Ring Road to continue their journeys.

“Motorists from Ahmadu Bello Way heading to 3rd Mainland Bridge should go through Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street, then link Alfred Rewane Road to Osborne Road, and connect to Ring Road to reach their destinations.

“Motorists heading to Inner Marina and CMS from Ahmadu Bello Way will be diverted to Ozumba Mbadiwe Avenue inbound Akin Adesola Street to connect Falomo Roundabout, then link Obafemi Awolowo Road to access J.K. Randle Road/King George V Road to reach their desired destinations.”

According to the commissioner, motorists heading to Ahmadu Bello Way from Inner Marina/CMS will have through-traffic access.

Osiyemi said the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) will manage traffic flow along the affected routes for the duration of the project.

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Ex-England star John Fashanu sues police for £100k after arrest in Nigeria

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March 16, 2025

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Ex-England star John Fashanu sues police for £100k after arrest in Nigeria

Former England international John Fashanu is suing Nigerian police for £100,000 after his arrest on multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, threat to life, intimidation, and trespassing.

The 62-year-old denies the allegations, which stem from a land dispute involving investors who agreed to pay over £500,000 for his 22-acre plot.

According to The Mirror, Fashanu was arrested after questioning contractors building a fence on his land.

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DSS, NIA probe Natasha Akpoti’s attendance at IPU meeting

Published

10 hours ago

March 16, 2025

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Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan

DSS, NIA probe Natasha Akpoti’s attendance at IPU meeting

Nigeria’s security and intelligence agencies have launched an investigation into how Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central attended the recent Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) meeting in New York without official nomination.

According to a report by Premium Times, officials from the Department of State Service (DSS) and the National Intelligence Agency (NIA) are reportedly examining the circumstances surrounding her attendance, including who facilitated her participation, how she obtained accreditation, and whether her presence was intended to embarrass the Nigerian government.

The investigation follows concerns that the senator did not receive official clearance from the Nigerian Senate to represent the country at the IPU event on March 11.

According to the IPU’s regulations, participation is generally restricted to official delegates nominated by their respective national parliaments, with details submitted in advance for accreditation. While some individuals may attend as observers, this typically requires explicit approval from both the IPU and the home country’s delegation.

At the meeting, Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan raised concerns about her recent suspension from the Nigerian Senate, describing it as a politically motivated move aimed at silencing her. She also made allegations of sexual harassment against Senate President Godswill Akpabio. In response, IPU President Tulia Ackson stated that the organization would investigate the matter while also considering the Nigerian Senate’s perspective.

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However, Nigerian delegate Kafilat Ogbara, who chairs the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development, challenged Akpoti-Uduaghan’s claims, presenting a letter from Senate Leader Opeyemi Bamidele. The letter stated that the senator’s suspension was due to violations of Senate standing rules rather than retaliation for her statements against Mr. Akpabio.

During a plenary session last Thursday, Mr. Bamidele questioned the legitimacy of Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan’s attendance at the IPU event, emphasizing that the IPU operates based on established protocols.

“So, if for any reason one of our colleagues, who was not even supposed to be there, found her way to the place, sat on the seat meant for Nigeria, and spoke for herself rather than for Nigeria, you know, that’s another issue altogether,” he stated.

Similarly, Jimoh Ibrahim, chairman of the Senate Committee on Inter-Parliamentary Activities, issued a statement on Friday asserting that Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan had no official authorization to represent Nigeria at the IPU meeting.

Sources indicate that the DSS and NIA’s inquiry is examining whether Mrs. Akpoti-Uduaghan obtained unauthorized credentials or was assisted by external facilitators in securing her participation. Investigators are also looking into whether her presence violated IPU regulations or Nigeria’s parliamentary protocols.

Additionally, the probe aims to determine if her statements at the meeting misrepresented Nigeria’s official position and whether any individuals or organizations played a role in facilitating her attendance without the government’s knowledge.

It remains unclear how the security agencies will act once their findings are concluded.