Did Tinubu Order Lagos Lawmakers to Reinstate Impeached Speaker Obasa? Fresh Fact Emerges
- A lawmaker has reacted to the report suggesting that President Tinubu gave a presidential order to reinstate the embattled Lagos speaker, Mudashiru Obasa
- Legit.ng reported that members of the Lagos Assembly elected Honourable Mojisola Meranda as speaker of the House following Obasa's impeachment
- Interestingly, a report that had gone viral detailed how Tinubu had ordered members of the Lagos Assembly to allow Obasa to return as speaker
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Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's purported directive to reinstate Mudashiru Obasa as speaker has been described as “fake news” targeted at distracting the newly elected speaker, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.
Source: Twitter
The denial followed a report by an online platform claiming that President Tinubu had pressured members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allow the return of Obasa as speaker three weeks after his removal. The report went viral on Sunday, February 2, and stirred a fresh debate in the polity.
The medium claimed the lawmakers should be prepared to return Obasa because the political price for his removal could potentially outweigh the benefits of punishing his excesses.
Lawmaker debunks report about Obasa's reinstatement
However, a lawmaker, who pleaded anonymity, described the report as fake news.
He explained how the Lagos Assembly led by Speaker Honourable Mojisola Meranda had met with President Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos state.
As reported by Vanguard, the lawmaker concluded that Meranda has the overall support of Lagos Assembly lawmakers but queried the motive by some elements behind Obasa's alleged return to the House.
He stated:
“This is nothing but fake news based on the fact that she has met with The President, Mr Governor, The GAC and Past members from the 1st Assembly to the 9th Assembly, among many others.
“There have also been numerous courtesy calls and endorsements on the election of Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly since the week of her election, further giving credence and authenticity to the legitimacy of her election.
“The circulation of the fake news has piqued the interest of many political observers, enthusiasts and citizens as they keep asking in one voice — “Is Obasa so important that he is being protected from above or are these just media stunts of a sore loser?”
“Lagos lawmakers are solidly behind the leadership of Rt Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who was constitutionally elected.”
Meanwhile, an aide to Meranda, who pleaded anonymity, said the new speaker was focused on the task ahead and would not be distracted by “cheap talks and mere speculations to cause confusion over leadership change of the assembly.”
Why Obasa was sacked as speaker
Legit.ng reported that the speaker of the Lagos Assembly, Obasa was impeached on Monday, January 13, over alleged gross misconduct and abuse of office, ending his tenure as speaker since 2015.
No fewer than 32 members of the assembly removed Obasa from his position and accused him of spending N17 billion on a gate to the assembly complex, which critics argued was excessive and fraudulent.
The house also dissolved all principal positions and standing committees in the assembly.
Subsequently, the lawmakers elected and swore in Honourable Mojisola Meranda as speaker of the state assembly. She became the first female speaker the Lagos Assembly has ever had.
Read more about Obasa here:
- Obasa vs Meranda: Videos, photos emerge as Lagos Assembly speaker resumes office
- Full list: Lagos assembly appoints new principal officers after Obasa’s impeachment
Supreme Court document questions Obasa's legal credentials
Legit.ng earlier reported that a Supreme Court document raised some questions about the legal credentials of Obasa, the impeached speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Obasa's name was reportedly missing from the Roll of Legal Practitioners in Nigeria, despite his claim to have a law degree from LASU.
The document was dated July 24, 2020, and was signed by Gertrude Karenton-Mordi on behalf of the Supreme Court's chief registrar.
Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.
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Source: Legit.ng
