All hail Lagos 38 legislative warriors, by Kola Amzat

Even though, political evolution especially since the turn of 4 th Republic in 1999 has significantly improved the quality and capacity of the key players in the political sphere, nonetheless, Nigerians, especially, Lagosians are stunned with the on-going development in Lagos State House of Assembly where the legislators have so far stood their ground that there is no going back on their resolve to replace gregarious Mudashiru Obasa, erstwhile helmsman of the house with new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda.

Like organic molecule, they’ve been studiously and deliberately united for the purpose. They’ve left no one in doubt that it’s a project that they intend to execute to its logical conclusion.

They’ve been unwavering, uncompromising, relentless, intentional and totally committed to the project. They’ve also re-emphasized in unequivocal terms that, electing or impeaching a speaker of the house is entirely their responsibility as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

This is the main reason why Lagosians must celebrate and give accolades to those worthy and reliable legislators, considering the fact they represent diverse political blocs across the state that they’ve bluntly refused to listen to, as far as this Obasa case is concerned.

We vividly recall that members of Governance Advisory Council (GAC), a couple of weeks ago demanded honorable members to make another choice from 8 members from Lagos West Senatorial Districts to replace the new speaker, an initiative politically muted to balance the state political equation, since the new speaker ascended from Lagos Central

Senatorial Districts, the same political bloc where the state governor hails from, and also, with a view to placating the impeached Obasa who comes from Lagos West. The honourable members bluntly refused to accede to the demand, as none of the 8 members signified intention to ascend the exalted office, preferring to cast their loins on the new speaker.

It’s also in the public domain that series of nocturnal meetings involving the APC leadership hierarchy, political class, leaders of thoughts and other pressure groups have been on-going across the state within the last couple of weeks with a view to forcing assembly members to revisit their decision, and change their hearts. Their efforts in this regards have been futile and abortive.

About 72 hours ago, the assembly members converged in the hallow chamber of the state assembly purposely to pass vote of confidence on

Speaker Mojisola Meranda, an initiative that they carried out with aplomb. But, not without engaging in brawl with security forces, with particular references to officers of DSS and men of Nigeria Police Force.

Meanwhile, the assembly indefinitely adjourned after achieving their lofty objective of passing vote of confidence on the new speaker.

As I put this Piece together, it’s still not clear on whose authority the detachment of security men invaded the house of assembly to harass the lawmakers, as well as to preventing them from discharging their responsibilities as provided in the 1999 Constitution, as amended.

Obviously and assuredly, our father, leader, and political icon, who we all look at, as model, President Bola Tinubu had no hands in this. This writer has deep conviction about this.

Besides the fact that the ex-Lagos state governor is the political father of all the members of LSHA and on whose shoulder and political platform, they all ascended, he is a democrat par excellence, worthy soldier of democracy, apostle of enforcing democratic tenets and principles, as well as a vanguard for protection of democratic institutions.

This writer hereby unapologetically confirm that apart from late sage, Chief Obafemi Awolowo and Aare Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola, the acclaimed winner of the 1993 presidential election, no one in Nigerian contemporary political landscape has passion, zeal, commitment and willpower to protect the sanctity of democracy than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

It would therefore be appropriate for government to unmask the identity of powerful bloc behind this invasion, with a view to making the public fully aware of the enemies of democracy in the state.

Meanwhile, it’s germane for Mudashiru Obasa to acknowledge that curtains has been drawn on his speakership tenure in the state. Since this development came to fore, the 38 members (95%) out of 40 assembly have consistently made it abundantly clear through their conducts and deeds that, his chapter as speaker is eternally close.

So, even if thousands of demons arise to re-install him, over who would he presides?

His 38 legislative colleagues have been drawing it to the hearing of all and sundry that his reign was less-salutary, despicable, corrupt-ridden, egoistic, oppressive and terror-like.

They also confirmed that they were sufficiently generous and magnanimous enough for accommodating his bestiality for about 10 years his reign endures.

The question remain: Is he the only capable legislator in Lagos who can preside the affairs of assembly? Is his family the only prominent political family that should be dominating, even with the news in public domain that he’s from Abeokuta? In a state with 5 very powerful districts, and about 25 million population, is it not even an indictment on the political class that they gave just only one man political latitude leverage to rule the most-sought assembly house in Nigeria 10 solid years to reign when there are diverse interests and blocs, and better- informed people all across the state?

Why is Obasa running from pillar to post to be reinstated? Why is he making spirited attempts to unsettle the LSHA? He is presently in law court with a view to upturning the decision of the house. With all the facts laid bare–plethora of corruption, despotic reign, unserious- minded in running the affairs of the house, as he allegedly to be a perennial late comer to plenary and resolve of 95% of the house members to do away with him, his court initiative would surely be a MISADVENTURE.

Finally, this writer appeal to all political blocs and diverse interests across the state who have taken it as a duty to cry more than the bereaved to leave LSHA members alone to do their constitutionally assigned responsibility, abide with the provisions of 1999 Constitution,

as amended, as well as leaving them to work in conjunction with tenets, norms and principles of democratic governance in managing the affairs of the House.

This is the ONLY thing they could do to help the state to continue with its status as State of Excellence.

Kola AMZAT (FCA, FCIB)

Lagos based Financial & Management Consultants,

09077509348.

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