A former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Mojisola Meranda, who only resigned on Monday as a result of pressure mounted on her by powers that be, aptly described the events that have taken place in the legislative chamber since January 13 when she assumed office, as a show of shame. Many other stakeholders have described it in various ugly terms, and a whole lot more, pointing accusing fingers at President Bola Tinubu, as the mastermind giving breath to the unwholesome shenanigans.
This involves the unceremonial return of ousted Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, as the substantive Speaker after what they claimed was interventions from the Governance Advisory Committee GAC , the states highest political decision making body, who in turn takes instruction from Bola Tinubu, the former state governor, and presently president of Nigeria.
The Nigeria Police, who a cross section has accused of taking sides in the speakership tussle, set the stage for the brigandage that unfolded when they unceremoniously withdrew the security details of the then speaker, Meranda, and instantly restored those of the then impeached Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa. This therefore, embolden the embattled speaker to conduct a gestapo-kind of raid on the Assembly complex with a retinue of heavily armed security operatives.
The invasion of the Assembly complex, as it was termed, was an aberration to democratic principles, some stakeholders noted, citing that the case was already at the court at the time. They also noted that it was a draconian order given by Mr.
Obasa, who was impeached by 36 members of his colleagues, had approached the court to challenge his removal from office on January 13, , while he was reportedly out of the country. In an application dated February 12, , filed by his lawyer, Chief Afolabi Fashanu SAN , the former Speaker is contesting the legality of the action taken against him. This was after he boldly said je remains the speaker at her return to Nigeria.
