Politics
LSHA: How Political Godfathers Shoved Meranda Aside For Obasa
The power-play which rocked the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), publicly vented an interplay of political wishes, godfatherism, legal fireworks, influence or loyalty of security operatives, and who is in-charge has seen the 49-day reign of Rt Hon Mojisola Meranda as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA) drawn to a close.
Biztellers reports that Hon Meranda in an emotion laden speech, which was vented in the media before being read to the lawmakers, ‘voluntarily’ stepped aside to preserve the interest of the party and the House.
Immediately thereafter, the legislators reelected Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker, who went ahead to adjourn the House sine-die.
However, it has become public knowledge that what played out in the House on Monday was not unconnected to the resolutions of the mediating panel mandated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to resolved the imbroglio.
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The panel was mastered by Chief Bisi Akande and Chief Olusegun Osoba, both former governors of Osun and Ogun States, respectively.
As part of their duties, they met with top APC leaders in Lagos State with a view to dousing the flames generated by Obasa’s removal on January 13, 2025 by over 30 lawmakers, who replaced him with Meranda, thus gifting the LSHA its first female Speaker.
The move, was rejected outright by Obasa, who went ahead to challenge it in the court, aligned with national and state party leaders, and coopted the security operatives to reclaim his position.
At the plenary on Monday, other principal officers elected under Meranda also resigned from their positions, including Deputy Speaker, Mojeed Fatai, and Chief Whip, Okanlawon Sani.
The action at the floor of the house was preceded with a meeting between Obasa, Meranda, all the lawmakers and the leadership of the party in Lagos State, led by the state Chairman, Cornelius Ojelabi.
The state Attorney General, Lawal Pedro (SAN), was also at the meeting held outside the assembly chamber, before the plenary where Meranda officially resigned.
In her resignation speech, Meranda stated that her decision was made in the interest of democracy and to prevent further crises within the Assembly.
She emphasised that leadership required selfless sacrifice and that stepping down was necessary to maintain stability.
“I wish to let every one of you know that I have made a personal sacrifice towards resolving the leadership crisis rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly.
“I recognise the role my family has played and continues to play in entrenching democracy, good governance, and the betterment of our people.
“I will never depart from the well-established path of honour, dignity, integrity, and service as personified by my late father,” she said.
The first female speaker in the history of the Assembly added, “I took this decision carefully and with firm consideration.
“On one hand, I accepted the position of Speaker on January 13, 2025, and on the other hand, I resigned the position as it is threatening the democracy of this House.
“I am not a quitter; however, I took this bold decision in order to save this legislative institution from further unnecessary conflict and embarrassment.
“Accordingly, I have agreed to yet again make a personal sacrifice by stepping down as the Speaker of this great Assembly.”
According to Meranda, the party is supreme.
“I sincerely thank you for your understanding and support, just as we know that party decisions are supreme,” she said.
Consequently, the House reelected Obasa, who took a fresh oath of office as the Speaker and pledged to Lagos residents that the assembly would continue to make laws for the progress of the state.
Obasa registered his gratitude to Chief Akande and Chief Osoba in dousing the flames.
He said, “We want to assure Lagosians that we have resolved and determined to serve their interest and protect their interest always.
“Our major responsibility is to represent them and that’s what we have been doing.
“What is happening here today shows that the Lagos State House of Assembly is capable and is a House of integrity. It is a house that has an internal mechanism to resolve issues in the interest of the institution and our party.
“Today is not the day for speech making but to celebrate my colleagues and thank them for all they have been doing. I am sure we will continue to work together in peace, love and harmony.”
Obasa thereafter adjourned the plenary indefinitely.
In a statement released by the APC, signed by its spokesperson in the state, Seye Oladejo, the party congratulated Lagosians and members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and general members of the APC for finding an amicable solution to the rift within the House of Assembly.
Oladejo said the crux of the disagreement which had been mainly to draw the attention of the public and the party to intractable internal issues “stretched the well-tested and trusted internal conflict resolution mechanism of the party.”
He said, “As a truly democratic party, we refrained from needless interference in the affairs of the legislature whose independence we hold in high esteem.
“However, the House deferred to the party when the conflict festered and defied all suggestions for settlement.
“We want to put it on record that the members of the House officially briefed the party about the untoward development and requested wise counsel from the party just a few days ago.”
He said the party met with all the members and proffered practical solutions which were sacrificial, stabilising and in the best interest of the state.
“You may wish to note that our role remained basically advisory and could only be binding if upheld in the hallowed chamber of the House of Assembly,” he added.
With permutations for 2027 elections already play high on the cards of Nigerian politicians, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo is banking on Edo and Delta States to team up and swing victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
Biztellers reports that his calculation is informed by the massive defection of notable politicians into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in both States.
Gov Okpebholo made the assertion while welcoming the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chiedu Ebie, who led the members of the Unity Group to join the APC.
Notable among other party stalwarts at the occasion were the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and the party’s South-South leaders.
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According to Okpebholo “just like Edo, Delta is ready to witness practical governance under APC.”
Beaming with joy, Gov Okpebholo added, “It is our turn to shine in the South South. It is now your turn in Delta. It is happening here, as it happened in Edo State. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing very well for the nation. He is repairing the foundation of the country for better prosperity. Because of that, in Edo State, we have started. We said 2027 is already possible. It is also possible here in Delta. I am here to welcome my brother, Chiedu Ebie.
“Chiedu is an intelligent young man who knows when to move. It is time for Delta to move, and it is starting here with Ika people.”
Receiving the decampees, Alh Ganduje, described the Delta Unity Group as great fighters of democracy, who have provided a strong vehicle that will lead APC to the Delta State Government House in 2027.
According to the APC national Chairman, “we have the three Senators now. We have members of the House of Representatives and State Assembly members, and over 60 percent of the followers of PDP have now joined the APC. We are assured of taking over this State come next election.
“We are not surprised because of the timber and caliber of politicians you have in Delta State in the APC. What we require now is unity. Unity of purpose and unity to win election. So we can provide quality governance to the people of Delta State.
“Very soon, we will organize a stakeholders meeting for all those major stakeholders because they are all good people. They are all wise people. They are all intelligent people, and they are all democrats. So, all of them will be convened for unity, like the Delta Unity Group.”
On his part, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Ebie, noted that their conviction to join the party was borne out of the love for good governance and party inclusiveness which the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated.
Earlier, while at the Palace of the Dein of Agbor, Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, the Keagborekuzi the first, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure peace and security across the country for the needed development in the country.
Present at the rally were Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko; Chairman House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Teke Ibori-Swenu; former Deputy Senate President, Omo Agege, among other party big wigs.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has assured that his administration would do everything within its powers to take care of Edo State civil servants and make them happy.
He made the pledge on Friday when he received Executives of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State Chapter, led by its Acting State Chairman, Comrade Bernard Egwekhide.
Egwekhide said they were in Government House to congratulate the Governor on his recent victory at the governorship election tribunal that affirmed his victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
On his part, the Governor said whatever Edo State workers are enjoying in the state is the responsibility of his administration to do because it is worker friendly.
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Okpebholo said, “Whatever we are doing, which is favouring Edo workers, is done because it is our responsibility as a government. Edo people voted for us to work for them, and that is what we are doing to ensure life is made better for our people, including the workers.
“We embrace transparency in all what we do as a government to enable the people to trust us as we are not afraid of criticism. Positive criticism will put us on our toes to work harder for Edo people.
“The renewed hope agenda of the president has given us room and platform to perform and serve Edo people better as we embark on practical governance.
“We are doing everything in the State to ensure peace, unity, growth, and development. That is why we ensure smooth collaboration amongst the three tires of government. In all we do in the State, we ensure the three Senatorial zones are carried along.”
The NLC acting chairman, Egwekhide, commended the Governor for his developmental strides and the friendly environment created for Edo State workers to operate.
He said the visit was necessary as the body had come to congratulate the Governor for his deserved victory at the election petition tribunal in Abuja.
According to him, “Workers in Edo State are proud of you for the developmental strides in the State. You have created a friendly relationship between your administration and Edo workers as you have always taken steps to favour Edo State workers.
“Without asking, workers received their 13th month. You raised the subvention of Ambrose Ali University (AAU) from N41 to N500 million. You regularized casual workers in Edo State. You increased what is due pensioners monthly from N50 million to N1 billion naira for both local and State pensioners.”
He noted that a committee has been set up to look into the compulsory pension scheme, which has become a burden on retired civil servants, adding that the report will be submitted to him for his action.
“We thank the governor for several employments given to our people in the very short time in office,” he added.
In a related development, Gov Monday Okpebholo also received the new branch controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Edo State, Apanke Utande who was on a courtesy visit to Government House, where the Governor urged him to collaborate with his administration to improve the lives of Edo people.
Sir Jude Idimogu, a former two-term member of the Lagos State House of Assembly, has strongly stated that there will be “no vacancy” in Aso Rock come 2027, reaffirming his commitment to the re-election of President Bola Tinubu.
Idimogu, who served as the representative of Oshodi-Isolo Constituency II from 2015 to 2023, shared his views during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
His comments followed the recent declaration from an opposition group promising to defeat the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
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A steadfast member of the APC and deputy leader of the Ndigbo socio-cultural group in Lagos, Idimogu dismissed the opposition’s chances of defeating President Tinubu in 2027, asserting that no coalition of opposition leaders could pose a significant challenge to the president’s second-term aspirations.
“The ruling party has strong leadership and unwavering grassroots support that will carry us through to victory in 2027,” Idimogu stated, branding the opposition’s efforts as “futile.”
He further noted that power rotation between the North and South made it clear that it was the South’s turn to complete its eight years in office.
“There is no vacancy in Aso Rock come 2027, and I am appealing to all Northerners in the APC to support the president in completing his eight years,” he added.
In his assessment of the current administration’s progress, Idimogu lauded President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, citing positive developments such as better power supply, the strengthening of the naira against the dollar, and the implementation of policies that have helped reduce food prices and boost agricultural output.
“With the restoration of the naira-for-crude deal and the export drive, we are seeing tangible results. I don’t see any opposition candidate who can present a policy better than what Tinubu’s administration is already doing,” he explained.
Looking ahead to 2027, Idimogu expressed his firm belief that he would be among those advocating for President Tinubu’s re-election, given the progress already made under his leadership.
Idimogu concluded by urging the opposition coalition to reconsider its stance, suggesting that they join forces with the president for the greater good of the nation.
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