The impeached Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has said that he has returned to office and resumed his position.
After returning to parliament with police and State Security Service details for the first time since he was removed on 13 January, the embattled lawmaker said: ‘I’ve resumed, and I remain the Speaker of the Assembly.
Earlier, Obasa rode into the assembly complex in company of a retinue of security aides.
The development follows the reported withdrawal of the security detail of incumbent Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda.
Meranda’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Segun Ajiboye confirmed the latest in a short message on Thursday, accusing Obasa and his team of allegedly breaking into the office.
‘They have restored all Obasa’s security aides as of this morning’, another source said.
The ousted speaker arrived the legislative building around midday and made for the Speaker’s office.
Obasa was removed as Speaker on 13 January, while out of the country, and Meranda was immediately elected to replace him.
On 25 January, Obasa returned to a hero’s welcome from his supporters.
He has faulted the process of his impeachment, insisting that he remains the legitimate speaker of the house.
He said: ‘I am not disturbed; I am not afraid of the developments that happened at the assembly.
‘I believe in removal; there’s no impeachment in the assembly. You cannot impeach (the) speaker. Probably, there’s a mistake from them. You can only remove the speaker.
‘And if you must remove (the speaker), you must ensure you follow the rules of the game. I am not afraid to be removed; what else am I looking for if I’ve served as speaker, and member of the house of assembly since 2003 up till date? So, what is the problem?
‘I believe strongly that I’m still the speaker until the right thing has been done.”
There had been speculations that pressure had been mounting on Meranda to tender her resignation.
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Obasa had been 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.
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.
