Following his reinstatement as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa met with lawmakers on Tuesday in an attempt to mend fences after weeks of political tension.
The meeting, which took place at the Assembly complex in Alausa, Ikeja, came a day after Obasa was re-elected as Speaker.
Obasa’s return to the position was made possible by intense negotiations led by senior leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), including former governors Bisi Akande and Aremo Olusegun Osoba. His reinstatement followed the resignation of Mojisola Meranda, who had served as Speaker for 49 days. Meranda, who took over after Obasa’s removal on January 13, 2025, was re-elected as Deputy Speaker after stepping down.
The Tuesday meeting took place amid speculation that Obasa was expected to resign following his return. However, a source close to the Speaker dismissed such claims, stating that Obasa had no intention of stepping down. The Chairman of the Lagos APC, Cornelius Ojelabi, also refuted the rumours when questioned about them.
Meanwhile, sources within the Assembly suggested that the meeting was not necessarily aimed at resolving differences. One lawmaker, who spoke anonymously, revealed that the meeting was poorly managed, reflecting the same leadership style that led to Obasa’s removal in the first place. He noted that lawmakers were kept waiting for over an hour and that Obasa did not apologize for the delay before proceeding with the agenda.
According to him, while Obasa acknowledged the lawmakers’ dissatisfaction, he did so in a passive manner and did not allow any discussions from the attendees.
The lawmaker said, “First, one of the issues we raised as a reason for his removal happened again. A meeting scheduled for 1pm did not hold until 2.30pm. We were all kept waiting and when he arrived, there was no apology for the late commencement of the meeting.
“He went straight to the agenda after he passively acknowledged that we were still bitter with the way we were forced to bring him back and none of us contributed at the meeting.”
Another lawmaker disclosed that the primary focus of the meeting was an update on a legal case involving the suspended Clerk of the House, Olalekan Onafeko. He explained that the matter, scheduled for hearing on Thursday, had raised concerns among legislators, particularly because the Department of State Services (DSS) became involved, leading to the invitation and arrest of some lawmakers. He added that aside from this update, nothing significant was discussed, and the meeting was brief.
The lawmaker further admitted that many of his colleagues were still unhappy about Obasa’s return and that their decision to reinstate him was driven by respect for party elders rather than personal support. He stated that, despite the public show of unity, there was still deep resentment within the House, making it difficult for the legislature to function smoothly.
Meanwhile, a source within Obasa’s camp revealed that efforts to rebuild relationships among lawmakers had been ongoing. He pointed out that this was not the first meeting between Obasa and the lawmakers since his reinstatement, as discussions had been held prior to Monday’s plenary. He emphasized that the meetings were primarily for reconciliation and to ensure a smooth working relationship moving forward.
However, a key point of contention remains Obasa’s push for the return of Onafeko as Clerk of the House. The source confirmed that while Obasa wants Onafeko reinstated, many lawmakers remain opposed to the idea.
The source explained that keeping a Clerk who was aligned with Meranda’s leadership would not be politically strategic for Obasa, making Onafeko’s return a priority for him.
Onafeko was suspended on January 13, the same day Obasa was removed as Speaker, and was replaced by Ottun Babatunde. In reaction, Onafeko has taken legal action against Babatunde and the Assembly at the National Industrial Court, seeking to reclaim his position. However, Babatunde acted as Clerk during the Monday plenary that saw Obasa’s re-election.
Speaking on the issue, Onafeko stated that while he stands by the court’s decision, he remains open to a political resolution.
“Sometimes, you manage the situation. That doesn’t mean you don’t know what you’re doing, but for the sake of peace and the integrity of the institution itself, and I want to defer to the members of the House. I know that they will do the right thing. So, let’s take it one step at a time.
“It’s not something that you can only sort out by the law. The political and human aspects will also be looked into. The most important thing is what is good for the institution and and the state itself,” he said.
