LAHA Speaker, Obasa, In Trouble: Aggrieved Lawmakers Plot Against Him

By Akinwale Kasali

Crisis is brewing in the Lagos State House of Assembly. Some aggrieved Lawmakers, unhappy with the leadership style of Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa are plotting for him not to retain the seat come 2023.

This is coming months to the 2023 general elections, as some gladiators are already jostling for the Speakership of the 10th session of Lagos State House of Assembly.

Obasa is said to be eyeing to retain the Speakership, for the third time, which it is alleged, explains why he  withdrew from the 2023 Senatorial Race.

If he wins in 2023, as is expected, he will be  returning to the House for a sixth term .

It was gathered, however, that some of his colleagues are plotting to  stop him from  retaining the seat. He faces formidable opposition from fellow Lawmakers and vested interest within the All Progressive Congress, APC.

It was also gathered that entrenched interests within the APC in Lagos State who are pushing for possible replacement of the current Speaker are already scheming ahead of May 2023 when Rt. Hon Obasa would have completed a second term of eight years in office as Speaker.

The clamour for the replacement of Obasa as Speaker of the forthcoming session of Lagos State House of Assembly is said to be a major issue to be taking on board by the leadership of APC in the composition of Principal offices of Government for the second term of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Considering that some notable current members of the House will not be returning to the hallow chambers, having failed to secure nomination for re-election at the primaries, the quest amongst interest groups in the Lagos APC to have the post of the Speakership zoned out of Agege and Lagos West Senatorial District that produced the current Speaker have started in earnest.

There are indications that high level consultations are  ongoing among stakeholders who are either demanding that the position of Speakership be zoned out of Agege or Lagos West Senatorial District.

While there appears to be disagreement regarding zoning out the Speakership position out of Lagos West Senatorial District out-rightly, investigation  revealed there is reasonable level of consensus that Agege should no longer produce the Speaker considering that the current occupier, Obasa, must have held the post for two consecutive terms by May 2023 and he can’t continue to hold sway for another four years.

Though details of a possible major contender against the current Speaker remains sketchy at the moment as permutations are ongoing, investigations, however, revealed that possible contenders amongst current members of the House of Assembly that are likely to be returning in 2023 are Hon. Mojeed Fatai Adebola from Ibeju Lekki Constituency 1, Hon. Tobun Abiodun from Epe Constituency 1 and Hon. Yishawu Gbolahan Rufai from Eti-Osa Constituency 2.

It is not however certain if the current tide of scheming will remain the same after the elections, and depending on decisions of the party as well as future occurrences.