President Bola Tinubu has intervened in the leadership crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly, expressing concern over Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s influence in the impeachment of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa.
At a high-level meeting held at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, Tinubu told lawmakers that he found it troubling that the state executive played a role in Obasa’s removal. The President’s concerns led him to push for the Speaker’s reinstatement, despite opposition from lawmakers who initially celebrated his impeachment as a win for accountability.
Sources present at the meeting revealed that Tinubu reprimanded Obasa for arriving late before addressing the Assembly’s internal disputes. The lawmakers were transported to Abuja on a chartered flight arranged by the presidency in a bid to resolve the crisis.
Obasa was removed from office on January 13 over allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement. However, behind-the-scenes pressure from the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, including Tinubu, led to his controversial reinstatement. His successor, Deputy Speaker Mojisola Meranda, was forced to step down as part of a deal to maintain party unity.
During the meeting, Tinubu instructed Obasa to withdraw his legal cases challenging his removal and directed lawmakers to maintain the current principal officers and committee chairmen. However, the dispute over the Assembly Clerk position remains unresolved, with Tinubu advising lawmakers to allow the courts to decide the matter.
Amid the Assembly’s turmoil, Obasa requested armed security reinforcements at the House complex, citing fears of unrest. This request came as conflicting judicial rulings continued to fuel uncertainty.
Further complicating matters, reports surfaced of a multi-billion naira procurement scandal involving official vehicles for lawmakers. Obasa had allegedly approved the purchase of 39 SUVs from Dubai at a cost of N7 billion. However, during her brief tenure as Speaker, Meranda opted for a local dealer, securing 32 Toyota Prado SUVs and seven Toyota Land Cruisers for N5 billion, saving N2 billion. Obasa reportedly demanded the return of these vehicles upon his reinstatement.
Additionally, legal battles persist, with Obasa’s move to replace the Lagos Assembly’s legal team drawing criticism from Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Femi Falana, who represents 35 lawmakers opposing Obasa’s reinstatement.
The crisis remains unresolved as multiple legal cases continue. The National Industrial Court will hear applications on March 18 regarding the Assembly Clerk’s reinstatement, while the Ikeja High Court is set to resume proceedings on March 17 on matters concerning Obasa’s impeachment.
As political tensions persist, Tinubu’s intervention has momentarily stabilized the situation, but concerns remain over governance, accountability, and the balance of power within Lagos State.
