Tinubu, APC Leaders Reach Political Solution on Lagos Assembly Crisis
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!After weeks of back-and-forth and a subsisting court case over Mudashiru Obasa’s removal as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, President Bola Tinubu and key leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have reached a political solution seen as favorable for all parties.
Sources reveal that Tinubu had discussions with several prominent APC leaders, including former APC national chairman, Chief Bisi Akande, former Ogun State governor Olusegun Osoba, Minister of Solid Minerals Dele Alake, and other influential figures. Additionally, a prominent Nigerian nonagenarian from the South-west met with the president to address the Assembly issue and other national matters, requesting the resolution as a birthday gift.
The meetings concluded that Obasa’s removal would stand, as the laws governing the Assembly’s leadership were clear. The decision stemmed from the consensus that his leadership had been widely criticized by his colleagues and political figures, with 37 out of 39 Assembly members expressing dissatisfaction with his leadership. Despite some damage already done, returning Obasa to power was deemed politically risky and detrimental to the president’s democratic credibility.
As part of the resolution, Obasa’s removal was reframed as a resignation, echoing the precedent set with the departure of former deputy speaker Funmi Tejuosho. Regarding the position of current Speaker Mojisola Meranda, the discussions grew more complex, as the president was keen on promoting women in politics but struggled with the logistical challenge of her representing Lagos Central, the same district as the governor. Ultimately, the consensus was to have Meranda step down and allow for leadership representation from Lagos West, ensuring balance across the state’s three senatorial districts.
The president’s approach focused on resolving the Assembly crisis without exacerbating tensions, looking to the future rather than dwelling on past failures. While angered by being caught off guard by the removal of Obasa, Tinubu is now determined to move forward, and the resolution reflects a calculated compromise for all involved.
