Dramatic twist at Lagos Assembly: ‘I was on vacation, I’ve resumed’- Obasa

 …We reject Obasa in all totality – 36 lawmakers

By Ezurike Ugochukwu

There was dramatic twist on Thursday at the Lagos State House of Assembly when the impeached speaker, Mudashiru Obasa along with two other lawmakers stormed the House of Assembly, announced he has resumed duty.

The embattled impeached speaker Obasa arrived at the Assembly around 11:30 AM, accompanied by heavily armed police officers and civil defence personnel, a development that threw the Assembly into disarray, especially as the incumbent Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, was reportedly absent from the scene.

Obasa who told journalists at the assembly complex that he has been on vacation and has returned to resume duty as speaker was accompanied by two out of the 40 lawmakers, Ayinde Akinsanya (Osmak), representing Mushin Constituency I, and Noheem Adams, representing Mushin Constituency II, accompanied Obasa to the complex.

Nation Update learnt doors to the Speaker’s office were forced open by Obasa’s loyalists.

Some armed miscreants were also said to have accompanied Obasa to the complex to take possession and have access to the speaker’s office.

An aide to the Speaker has expressed worry that security personnel, including police officers and operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), attached to the speaker were withdrawn on Thursday morning without any replacement.

The development, he said has left the Speaker vulnerable to potential attacks.

It was confirmed that the Inspector General of Police, IGP, had ordered the withdrawal of all security details assigned to Speaker Meranda.

The aid stated, “In the early hours of Thursday, we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn. This includes the police and DSS officers, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis.”

The aide further appealed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the state’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene urgently to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order.

The crisis escalated further on Wednesday, when Olalekan Onafeko, the former and suspended Clerk of the House, attempted to resume duty at the Assembly complex. However, he was politely turned away by security personnel.

Onafeko, who was removed alongside former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, allegedly arrived at the complex around 9 a.m., accompanied by his lawyer, two security personnel, and unidentified DSS operatives, in an attempt to reclaim his office.

“He, the suspended clerk, was politely told by the lawyer of the State Assembly to leave the complex peacefully as the matter is already in court,” an eyewitness revealed.

A viral video captured Assembly staff booing and jeering at Onafeko, chanting unfavorable slogans as he was escorted out of the premises.

In response to the incident, the management of the Lagos State House of Assembly, through a statement signed by Chief Security Officer Kushoro Idowu, condemned the development.

As of 3 pm, the plenary was ongoing with over 36 lawmakers boycotting the session in what appeared to be a show of support for the substantive Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

The lawmakers, gathered at the Assembly’s garden, reaffirmed their February 17 vote of confidence in Meranda, despite Obasa’s return, which was reportedly aided by armed men and suspected political thugs.

The lawmaker however restated they have turned away from the Obasa era insisted that there is no turning back, that Obasa has gone as speaker.

Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy, and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, decried the chaos and called for calm.

“This is the Lagos State House of Assembly, and what we are witnessing today is shocking. If there are issues, leadership should address us directly, not resort to this kind of display,” he said.

He described the incident as an embarrassment, lamenting that security operatives had prevented him from accessing the complex.

One other lawmaker was heard speaking beside Ogundipe insisted that the Assembly would not recognise Obasa’s leadership.

“He was not elected as Speaker by his constituency. For nearly a decade, we endured his authoritarian style of leadership. Enough is enough, and we are not backing down,” the lawmaker declared.

Access roads leading to the Assembly were also blocked by individuals said to be Obasa’s supporters, who arrived in unmarked buses, forcing motorists to seek alternative routes.