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Lagos Speakership: The Return of Mudashiru Obasa

Published

2 weeks ago

March 4, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

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. President, who they said owned both Lagos State and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

Though the newly appointed Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh, said that the sudden withdrawal of Meranda’s security was not in bad light, but as part of security auditing, he was silent on the restoration of security details to Obasa, who was also a person of interest in the crises, and at the time, wasn’t a principal officer.

“As we speak, as I speak with you, the audit of the police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Miranda has been completed, and the form-armed police personnel attached to her from the Nigeria State Police Command have been returned to her for her protection,” the commissioner said on Thursday evening.

“It is pertinent to state that the ongoing police personnel audit has been on for several days now, and prominent personalities and individuals have been complying with the process. The exercise, once again, is not aimed or targeted at any individuals,” he said

Obasa, who was impeached by 36 members of his colleagues, had approached the court to challenge his removal from office on January 13, 2025, while he was reportedly out of the country.

In an application dated February 12, 2025, 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.

But while the case was still in court, Obasa stormed the assembly during its recess, and went ahead to preside over a plenary of four members, prompting Meranda to describe it as a show of shame. She also accused the State Police Command of telling lies when it claimed that her security details, which were withdrawn in the light of the invasion of the Assembly complex by Obasa and three others, had been restored, adding that the claim by the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Moshood Jimoh that the full compliments of the speaker’s security had been restored was false.

Matters came to a head therefore, on Monday, when Meranda resigned her position as speaker, thanking some undisclosed powers for making and removing her as speaker. Her resignation paved the way for Obasa to be reelected after being a regular member for 49 days.

The return, to commonsense have been shocking, especially as the GAC, the lawmakers and the executive committee of Lgos State, all endorsed the emergence of Meranda and rejected Obasa, but to those, whobare in the know of how Lagos politics, attest to the fact, that it wasn’t surprising as Lagos is already a conquered state, whose hegemony is controlled by ‘one man’, his present exalted office as the president notwithstanding.

Sources told The Boss that the president was not happy at the removal, citing nonconsultation, and therefore, ruled that the democratic process already in place be overturned, and so the return of impeached Obasa.

“Emperor Tinubu is forcing Mudashiru Obasa on Lagos,” is a way an analyst, who crazed anonymity, summarized the 49-day long of legislative rascality witnessed in Lagos State.

Featured

Rivers Crises: Dele Momodu Writes Open Letter to Tinubu

Published

19 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Eric

By Eric Elezuo

Following the political crises that have ravaged Rivers State, and President Tinubu’s subtle preference for one of the gladiators, Mr. Nyesom Wike, the former governor of the state, and present Minister of the Federal Capital Territory against the incumbent governor, Mr. Siminalayi Fubara, Chairman, Ovation Media Group, Chief Dele Momodu, has written yet another letter to the president.

Momodu reminded the president of life after office, and the need to live according to his democratic billings and background, stating that God has been kind to him to give him what Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe and the rest couldn’t get, their popularity and doggedness notwithstanding. He pointed out the recent happenings at the Lagos State House of Assembly, where the lawmakers impeached his anointed speaker, whom he restored, saying that was part of the signals towards the impending rebellion ahead.

The letter in full:

AN OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT TINUBU
By DELE MOMODU

My dear ASIWAJU, I pray this message meets you well. This letter has become necessary because of the strange things happening under your watch. I believe you were a Democracy hero and some of your mentees in the 1990s are now thoroughly embarrassed, and we feel scandalized, by your complete transfiguration from a Democracy Fighter to an enabler of ruthless Dictatorship. I have watched with incredulity, and sometimes trepidation, how you have wasted the humongous goodwill you built and acquired in those days of military rulership. How sad and unfortunate!!

Your Excellency, let me tell you what your hangers on will not tell you. Your deification by hero-worshippers is a charade. Permit me to give you two tales from Yoruba folklore. The first is the story of A O MERIN JOBA. How the elephant was deceived into thinking he shall become the ultimate king of the jungle until he fell into the ditch dug by the same acolytes.

The second is that of ESIN OBA SONU. The King’s Horse disappeared and a massive hunt ensued. It is not everyone searching for it that wants it recovered.

Have you forgotten the encomiums you and other members of your ruling party poured on President Muhammadu Buhari barely two years ago? Today, you’re all singing new tunes. The same fate awaits you sooner or later. The government agencies of coercion you’re deploying today to harass your opponents would be mobilized to hound you and yours if and when tomorrow comes.

The polity is dangerously heating up at the speed of light. Perhaps, only you and your diehards cannot see it. The recent rebellion in the Lagos State House of Assembly should have been a veritable signal to you about the impending resistance ahead.

Your open support for Minister Wike’s destabilization of Rivers State is most regrettable. God has been most kind to you. You got what CHIEFS AWOLOWO, AZIKIWE, M.K.O ABIOLA, OLU FALAE and MAJOR GENERAL YAR’ADUA couldn’t achieve. Why do you now place your fate in the hands of gods with feet of clay?!

Your legitimate ambition to seek a second term does not warrant this level of rascality across the nation…

Best wishes…

BOB DEE

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Again, El-Rufai Attacks Tinubu over Chicago Varsity Certificate Scandal, Calls President Ungrateful

Published

20 hours ago

March 16, 2025

Eric

A former Governor of Kaduna State Nasir El-Rufai, said he and his allies had hoped that President Bola Tinubu would replicate his achievements in Lagos at the national level but failed woefully.

El-Rufai explained that despite concerns about Tinubu’s alleged certificate forgery from Chicago State University during the 2023 presidential election they backed him, believing he could transform Nigeria as he did Lagos.

“What pains me is that the government we supported and had confidence in would do well, because we saw what Tinubu did in Lagos despite his challenges,” El-Rufai told BBC Hausa in an interview on Saturday.

“We all know about his issues in Chicago, but we thought if he could replicate his work in Lagos for Nigeria, let’s support him. However, he failed,”

El-Rufai called on opposition figures, including Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola, to unite under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) to salvage the country.

“What I want and pray for is for all opposition leaders—Atiku Abubakar, Peter Obi, Rotimi Amaechi, and Rauf Aregbesola—to join the SDP,” he added.

El-Rufai also dismissed accusations that he betrayed former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, stating that his past disagreements with Atiku during the Obasanjo administration were based on principle, not personal animosity.

“I never betrayed Atiku Abubakar because we didn’t meet in politics; we met at work. In work, if I see that he didn’t do well, whoever he is, I will tell him. I told Buhari, and I even took Buhari to court on the new naira issue,” he said.

“When Obasanjo and Atiku were having issues, those of us working with Obasanjo looked at the issues between them and said Obasanjo was more right. It was not about north and south; Obasanjo was right. Atiku and I are now together, and if I betrayed him, why are we together now.”

Featured

Sanusi Lamido Remains Emir, Kano Govt Insists, Says Appeal Court Can’t Contradict Itself

Published

2 days ago

March 15, 2025

Eric

Kano State Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Haruna Isa Dederi, has insisted that the ruling of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, on the lingering emirship tussle has not invalidated the reinstatement of Muhammadu Sanusi II as the 16th Emir.

Besides, Dederi declared that having passed a landmark verdict on January 10, 2025, reaffirming the power of the Kano State Government to reappoint Sanusi, it is impossible for the Court of Appeal to set aside or quash its own decision on the same matter.

The Attorney General made this position known to journalists while reacting to Friday’s ruling of the Appellate Court on the application for a stay of execution filed by Alh. Aminu Baba DanAgundi, one of the kingmakers loyal to the 15th Emir of Kano, Alh. Aminu Ado Bayero, pending the determination of the appeal at the Supreme Court.

According to Dederi, the matter is functus officio, adding that only the Supreme Court has the power to set aside the decision of the Appeal Court handed down by Justice Mohammad Mustapha on January 10, 2025.

“The Appeal Court today, after hearing their application for a stay of execution, ruled that the status quo should rather be maintained as it is now until after the judgment of the Supreme Court. They have filed an appeal at the Supreme Court.

“It doesn’t mean that the judgment delivered on January 10, 2025, has been quashed. That judgment is still standing, still in place, and subsisting. The Court of Appeal cannot reverse its own decision. It is not possible. Only the Supreme Court has the power to set aside the judgment given by a lower court.

“So, the Court of Appeal, Abuja, today has just said that execution of the judgment has been stayed pending the outcome of the appeal, which has been filed at the Supreme Court by Aminu Baba DanAgundi on behalf of Bayero,” Dederi noted.

It would be recalled that on January 10, 2025, a three-member panel of the Court of Appeal, Abuja Division, led by Justice Mustapha, set aside the judgment of Justice A. Liman of the Federal High Court, Kano, which nullified the steps and actions taken by the Kano State Government pursuant to the Kano State Emirate Council (Repeal) Law 2024, including the appointment of Sanusi Lamido Sanusi as the 16th Emir of Kano.

The Appellate Court also dismissed the decision of the Federal High Court judge to hear the matter relating to the emirate council, ruling that the Federal High Court lacked the jurisdiction to do so. This decision upheld the removal of Bayero as the 15th Emir.

Dissatisfied with the verdict of Justice Mustapha’s panel, DanAgundi proceeded to the Supreme Court to seek the overturning of the lower court’s verdict. He also filed a motion for a stay of execution of Justice Mustapha’s judgment pending the hearing and determination of the Supreme Court’s ruling on the matter.

The application was also moved on the grounds that the applicant initially instituted the suit in Kano to protect his fundamental rights and argued that the trial court lacked jurisdiction to hear and determine the suit.

In a unanimous ruling, the three-member panel of Justices led by Justice Abang on Friday held that the application was meritorious and deserving of the court’s discretion in the interest of justice.

“The law is settled. The court is enjoined to exercise its discretion judiciously and in the interest of justice,” Justice Abang said

Justice Abang held that the mandatory injunction ordered that the status quo ante bellum be maintained by the sheriff of this court and the trial court as it was before the trial court’s decision on 13/6/2024 in Suit No. FHC/KN/CS/182/2024.

In granting the injunction, Justice Abang emphasised that the applicant’s process was competent and had met all the necessary legal conditions required to obtain the relief sought.

He noted that a valid appeal was already pending before the Supreme Court, reinforcing the need to preserve the subject matter of the litigation.