President Bola Tinubu’s intervention in the Lagos State House of Assembly calms frayed nerves as the reinstated Speaker Mudashiru Obasa consolidates his leadership after his ouster
By Lukmon Ojerinde
At last, President Bola Tinubu has brought an end to the leadership crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly, Tentacle can authoritatively reveal. At the beginning of the crisis, it was widely speculated that Tinubu was behind the impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa by 35 of the 40 lawmakers on January 13, 2025 when the then embattled Speaker travelled out for vacation.
However, verified facts have revealed that Obasa has remained a trusted ally of President Tinubu who has waded into the impeachment saga of Obasa and ensured that his man Friday was restored as the Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker.
Tinubu during a meeting with the visiting Lagos Assembly members last week, had urged the 39 lawmakers to support Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. The decision follows months of political tension that had threatened the stability of the House.
Trouble started on the floor of the Lagos House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, when 35 out of 40 lawmakers removed Obasa from office. They accused him of ruling with an iron hand, misusing funds, and making decisions without consulting others.
In his place, his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, was chosen to replace him as Speaker. However, after weeks of negotiations, pressure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) at both national and state levels led to a change.
On March 3, Meranda stepped down, paving the way for Obasa to return as Speaker. She then resumed her former role as Deputy Speaker.
The final settlement came after all the 40 lawmakers met with President Tinubu in Abuja on Wednesday, March 12, 2025. After their discussions, they all agreed to work together for the progress of the Assembly and Lagos State.
A source privy to the Abuja parley whispered, “Tinubu met the lawmakers behind closed-doors. They spoke on their grievances and the President has resolved the problems.
“With the development, Obasa will stay as Speaker. His position is no longer threatened. All the lawmakers have agreed to work with him.
“They all had a photo session with the President after the meeting. It went well”.
While some Lagos stakeholders are displeased that the original agreement was not upheld, the source assured that the President would engage all aggrieved parties to maintain unity.
The source added, “Some stakeholders are naturally displeased Obasa reneged on the agreement with the Akande panel. I’m sure the President would engage everyone to settle the matter”.
Also, another source close to Obasa revealed that Tinubu also directed the Speaker to withdraw his lawsuit challenging his impeachment at the Lagos State High Court.
The source claimed, “The President told the lawmakers to allow Obasa to work, and Obasa should also withdraw the case against Meranda and the lawmakers in court. The lawmakers have agreed to this”.
Tentacle gathered that Obasa arrived at the Villa separately around 2:50 pm on the meeting day and was led to the President’s office, while his colleagues, who arrived earlier in two coaster buses, were taken through a different route for the meeting.
Although the agenda was not officially disclosed, sources indicated that the discussions centered on the recent leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
As the lawmakers exited Tinubu’s office at around 4:30 p.m., they were heard chanting “On your mandate, we shall stand,” a political slogan affirming their loyalty to the President. The chorus echoed through the Villa’s forecourt for several minutes as they boarded their buses.
Obasa, who left the meeting alongside House of Representatives member Rt. Hon. James Faleke, resisted journalists’ attempts to get his comments. When asked about the outcome, Faleke simply stated, “It went well.”
Some anonymous reports had it that some lawmakers may have apologized to Obasa over his impeachment.
Obasa was removed as Speaker by some of his colleagues but was reinstated on March 3, 2025, following the intervention of political stakeholders, including the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Lagos State Governing Advisory Council (GAC).
Despite his reinstatement, reports indicate that tensions within the Assembly remain unresolved.
After weeks of crisis, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, retraced their steps and reinstated its embattled former speaker, Mr. Obasa as the Speaker. This followed the resignation of Mrs. Meranda.
Obasa’s reinstatement by his colleagues followed a series of interventions by the leadership of the All Progressives Congress, APC, both at the national and state levels.
Though there were speculations that the reinstated Speaker may resign, it was gathered that a strategic meeting that led to the resolution of the crisis in the Assembly reined in the anti-Obasa lawmakers.
A source familiar with the crisis disclosed that Obasa would not resign, despite his reinstatement.
