Obasa: Tinubu’s Abuja Peace Meeting Fails to Resolve Lagos Assembly Crisis

The political turmoil engulfing the Lagos State House of Assembly continues to deepen, despite a recent intervention by President Bola Tinubu aimed at restoring order. A peace meeting convened in Abuja last Wednesday between President Tinubu and key lawmakers has failed to bring lasting calm to the Assembly, following a months-long crisis triggered by the dramatic ousting of Speaker Mudashiru Obasa in January.

Obasa was impeached by 35 out of 40 lawmakers over allegations of financial misappropriation, highhandedness, and autocratic leadership. He was replaced by his deputy, Mojisola Meranda, sparking chaos within the Assembly and among party stakeholders in Lagos. The fallout led to the involvement of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership and respected elders including Chief Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba, who brokered a truce reportedly involving Meranda’s resignation and Obasa’s short-lived reinstatement—pending his own resignation 48 hours later to allow for a new Speaker from Lagos West.

Meranda eventually resigned, and Obasa was re-elected as Speaker, but failed to follow through with the alleged agreement to step down. His refusal has reignited tensions, with lawmakers accusing him of betrayal and pushing the Assembly into an indefinite recess. The APC’s Lagos spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, claimed that there was no formal agreement requiring Obasa’s resignation, adding more confusion to the ongoing debacle.

The crisis took a new turn with allegations surrounding the controversial purchase of SUVs for lawmakers. During Obasa’s ouster, Meranda allegedly led the procurement of 39 vehicles worth N5 billion—an act Obasa contests, claiming he had already approved N7 billion for the same purpose before his removal. Obasa has since taken Meranda, 33 lawmakers, and the Assembly to court, challenging the legitimacy of his impeachment and the vehicle purchases. Sources close to both camps accuse each other of mismanagement and procedural violations, with Obasa reportedly intending to import the vehicles from Dubai, while Meranda opted for local suppliers and claimed to have saved the state N2 billion.

Meanwhile, calls for Obasa’s resignation have grown louder. The De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation, a pro-indigene group, condemned the reinstatement of Obasa, calling it a betrayal of the democratic will of Lagosians, who they claim supported Meranda. They urged Obasa to resign, citing his loss of legitimacy and alleged imposition by Abuja-based political actors.

The Agenda for New Lagos (ANL) also accused Obasa of manipulating the judicial process to validate his reinstatement, alleging that a predetermined court ruling will soon declare his impeachment null and void. The group believes the court action was part of a wider plan to consolidate Obasa’s grip on the Assembly, including reinstating the previously removed Clerk of the House.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has remained silent on the unfolding crisis despite being a key stakeholder. However, sources say his silence may be strategic, given the increasingly polarized environment and accusations that Obasa is now acting as de facto political leader in Lagos on behalf of Tinubu.

President Tinubu, during the Abuja meeting, reportedly chastised Obasa, warning him against further alienating his colleagues. He also advised him to drop the court case against Meranda and hinted that he would support Obasa’s resignation if tensions continued. A source present at the meeting said the President was aware that damaging information could surface against Obasa and urged him to tread carefully.

The Lagos State chapter of the Labour Party has condemned the crisis, calling it a betrayal of the public trust and a distraction from the state’s pressing issues. Its chairman, Dr. Dayo Ekong, described the infighting as disgraceful and urged the Assembly to prioritize governance.

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, Labour Party’s 2023 gubernatorial candidate, also decried the developments, warning that the manipulation of the legislature undermines democratic institutions and sets a dangerous precedent. He criticized the alleged imposition of leadership by external forces and called for a return to constitutional order.

Retired Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju, of the De-Renaissance Patriots Foundation, echoed similar concerns, accusing Tinubu of bypassing due process and forcing out an elected Speaker in favor of political expediency. He also warned Governor Sanwo-Olu to be cautious, suggesting that Obasa’s consolidation of power could threaten his own political standing.

The controversy has reignited debates over indigeneship in Lagos politics, with Chairman of the APC’s Governance Advisory Council, Pa Tajudeen Olusi, downplaying the notion of “Lagos for Lagos” and acknowledging the demographic reality that non-indigenes now make up the majority in the state.