Deborah Akinyosoye
Ousted speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, has stormed the assembly complex.
It was learnt that Obasa was in the company of some security officials, entered the Speaker’s Office around 12 noon on Thursday.
The development followed the withdrawal of the security aides of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
The Chief Press Secretary to Meranda, Segun Ajiboye, confirmed the latest in a short message on Thursday, accusing Obasa and his team of allegedly breaking into the office.
“We’re at the assembly now,” a source in the Obasa camp also said.
The assembly has been embroiled in leadership crisis since Obasa’s removal as speaker and subsequent election on Meranda.
Obasa was accused by over 90 per cent of the lawmakers of poor leadership style, perpetual lateness to legislative sections and plenary, high-handedness and disregard for colleague lawmakers and the executive, especially the governor, abuse of office and privileges, intimidation and oppression of members, misappropriation, among others.
In an attempt to resolve the crisis, some All Progressives Congress bigwigs, notably former governors of Osun, Ogun and Lagos states, namely Chief Bisi Akande, Segun Osoba, and Akinwunmi Ambode, respectively, among others at the direction of President Bola Tinubu, had a series of meetings last weekend with political stakeholders in the state including members of the assembly.
It was learnt at the end of the meetings that both Obasa and Meranda might be stepping aside for another lawmaker to lead the house.
A member of the Governors Advisor Council, Chief Muraina Taiwo, noted that one of the seven lawmakers from Lagos West was being considered by the party leaders as the new Speaker.