… Lawmakers reaffirm stand, unite behind Meranda
By Amidu Arije
The Lagos State House of Assembly has reaffirmed its stand and the legality of its decision to impeach the erstwhile speaker of the house, Hon Mudashir Obasa.
The embattled former speaker was impeached on 13 January 2025 by over 2/3 majority of the members of the legislature at a plenary and unanimously elected Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as substantive speaker of the house.
In a statement earlier, the embattled lawmaker, Hon Obasa, has said due process was not followed in his impeachment and vowed to return to the house as speaker.
But in a statement on behalf of the lawmakers, Hon. Stephen Olukayode Ogundipe said the due process of the law was followed and that Obasa remained impeached and Meranda affirmed speaker of the house.
He said, “The position of the House remains the same, and nothing has changed. The position being canvassed by former Speaker, Rt Hon Obasa is uncalled for and unparliamentary.
“The majority of members elected Rt. Hon Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker for the 10th Assembly, and we also at the said Plenary took the majority decision to remove him and stand by the new Speaker, so nothing has changed.”
“It is imperative to clarify that over 2/3 of the members of the Lagos State House of Assembly are solidly united behind the new Speaker, Rt Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, therefore we stand by the decision taken on the 13th of January where Rt Hon Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa was impeached and we shall defend our positions to the latter. As elected representatives of the people of Lagos, we owe them good governance and harmonious relationships with other arms of government.”
Ogundipe cautioned the former speaker to toe the path of peace and democratic principles as the assembly followed due process in removing him as speaker.
He said: “I therefore, appeal to the former Speaker to toe the line of peace and harmony as being followed by others, as the current intransigent posture will heat up the polity and not augur well. Any attempt to heat up the polity will be resisted by the majority of distinguished members who unanimously elected Rt Hon Meranda.
“Peace we want in Lagos and Peace we will achieve.”
