SNOOP COMMUNICATIONS

 Lagos Assembly Crisis: 

Fears Over Obasa’s Unlikely Resignation After Reinstatement

 

Despite spirited effort of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) to resolve the lingering leadership crisis bedevilling the Lagos State House of Assembly, there are indications to suggest that the peace effort may hit a brick wall.

The Snoop exclusively gathered that the state governor, Babajide Olusola Sanwo-olu and the GAC under the leadership of Prince Tajudeen Olusi were given presidential marching order to resolve the crisis within a week following President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s reported resentment to the Lagos Assembly debacle. The governor and indeed the GAC leadership spent the past weekend to proffer solution to the crisis.

At the end of a marathon tripartite meeting with the lawmakers, the GAC leadership and Gov. Sanwo-olu, it was resolved that Speaker Mojisola Meranda must resign her position on Monday while the impeached speaker, Mudashiru Obasa must be returned to his former position before he is expected to also resign his position to pave the way for a new speaker expected to be elected from among the Lagos West lawmakers to balance the power equation in the state.

As part of the peace deal, the resignation letters of both Meranda and Obasa are expected to be communicated to the GAC on Wednesday 4^th March, 2025.

Though this peace pact was initially rejected by majority of the lawmakers, many of who were opposed to Obasa’s return. But they eventually gave in after Gov. Sanwo-olu literally went on his knees to beg them to relax their stance against the embattled Obasa.

The governor’s passionate appeal to the lawmakers according to close sources, stemmed from the cold shoulder he reportedly received from the president over the crisis.

Gov. Sanwo-olu, it was gathered was singled out for blame by the president for being a part of the plot that ousted the former speaker. Hence, Sanwo-olu is sparing no effort at ensuring the crisis is finally settled.

As expected, Speaker Meranda resigned from her position at yesterday’s plenary session amidst thunderous applause from her colleagues. She cited the need to protect the state Assembly as reason for her resignation from the speakership position.

But before announcing her resignation, the lawmakers reportedly took turns to commend her legislative acumen, diligence, and performance within her short time in office.

Showering praises on Meranda, Desmond Olusola Elliot thanked her, saying she demonstrated good leadership and led the house well.

Another lawmaker, Temitope Adewale Ifako-Ijaiye I, said, “We celebrate you for your quality service. You are a heroine of democracy. You came, you saw, you conquer. You are a victim of circumstance. This house is in tears.”

Despite Meranda’s resignation, there were palpable fears that the peace effort seems to be a mirage following Obasa’s entrance into the Assembly complex. Though he reportedly exchanged pleasantries with his fellow lawmakers, many of them remained unfazed by his presence.

Sources say the embattled former speaker remain unpopular among his colleagues as they fear he may renege on his earlier promise to tender his resignation on Wednesday 4^th March, 2025.

Their fear, according to sources, is reinforced by the fact that the peace deal has put Obasa in a position of strength to thwart effort at installing a new speaker.

“I just hope the peace deal does not boomerang on us because no one trusts Muda on this. If he decides not to resign as promised, we cannot afford to go into a long legal battle with him. He can use this court case as a decoy to stay longer than necessary.

“Besides, he has a fat pocket to fend off our opposition to his leadership and the longer that continues, the better for him,” says one of the lawmakers in a chat with our correspondent last night.