The political crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly took a dramatic turn on Thursday when the ousted Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, forcefully entered the Speaker’s office at around noon. Accompanied by armed men, Obasa gained access to the office following the withdrawal of security aides assigned to the current Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.
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This development follows the controversial decision by the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to withdraw all security details previously assigned to Speaker Meranda, including officers from the police and the Department of State Services (DSS). This move has left Speaker Meranda vulnerable to potential threats amid the ongoing leadership tussle within the Assembly.
An aide to the Speaker, speaking confidentially with newsmen, confirmed the alarming news, stating that the security personnel were withdrawn without any immediate replacements. “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we woke up to the startling news that all security details assigned to Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, had been withdrawn, leaving her exposed to threats amid the ongoing speakership crisis,” the aide disclosed.
The aide further called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, as the state’s Chief Security Officer, to intervene promptly to prevent a breakdown of law and order. The absence of security around the Speaker’s office has raised concerns about the safety of Speaker Meranda and the stability of the Assembly.
The crisis within the Lagos Assembly escalated further on Wednesday when Olalekan Onafeko, the suspended Clerk of the House, attempted to resume duties at the Assembly complex. Onafeko, who was removed along with Mudashiru Obasa on January 13, showed up at the complex with his lawyer, two security personnel, and unidentified DSS operatives. However, he was politely turned away by security personnel, who informed him that the matter was already in court.
A viral video captured Assembly staff booing and jeering at Onafeko as he was escorted out of the premises, adding fuel to the fire of the ongoing leadership dispute.
In response to this incident, the management of the Lagos State House of Assembly, through a statement signed by Chief Security Officer Kushoro Idowu, condemned the events and reiterated the need for calm in the face of escalating tensions.
The crisis began after Mudashiru Obasa was removed from his position as Speaker by 32 out of 40 members of the Assembly on January 13. Following his ouster, Mojisola Meranda was elected as the new Speaker. Despite numerous interventions from President Bola Tinubu, the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), Governor Sanwo-Olu, and the All Progressives Congress (APC), efforts to resolve the dispute have not yet yielded positive results.
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