‘Babasopecracy’ Obasa Agenda confirmed, as APC says reinstated Speaker’s resignation not on table
By KEMI KASUMU
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos State has spoken on the matters surrounding the “return and resign” arrangement said to have been plotted to give the reinstated Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, a softlanding, saying such was not in its agreement at the last meeting.
The DEFENDER gathered that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, though by proxy, who is believed to be behind the Lagos Assembly crisis had a purpose for which he installed Obasa in the House especially as the Agege Constituency I lawmaker is said to be the most trusted ally of the “emperor” at the moment and so that, if reinstated, he would not resign.
Confirming this insinuation by implication, the Lagos State APC, which spoke on Wednesday March 5, said Obasa is not expected to resign as part of the agreement to resolve the leadership crisis in the Assembly this confirming warning by former Minister of Communications Major General Tajudeen Olanrewaju (Rtd) that those who were imposing Obasa on “return and resign” arrangement would make him to stay.
Reacting to the public discussion about the embattled lawmaker’s resignation, the Ibadan, Oyo State -indigene who is holding office as Lagos State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Mr. Seye Oladejo, dismissed the claim.
“To the best of my knowledge, there was no time the arrangement for Obasa to resign came up in the terms of settlement of the crisis,” Oladejo said according to Vanguard,
When asked if Obasa would drop the lawsuit, Oladejo said, “I’m aware that any moment from now, Obasa will withdraw the lawsuit in the interest of renewed peace and progress of the House in particular and the party in general.”
On Tuesday, Obasa met with 39 lawmakers behind closed doors at the assembly complex.
The meeting, which started at about 2:10 p.m., was attended by the Deputy Speaker, Mrs. Mojisola Meranda.
It was gathered that the meeting was aimed at easing tensions and bringing the aggrieved lawmakers back on board. The meeting, however, did not achieve the objective of Obasa to push against his resignation as some of the lawmakers present moved for him to tender his resignation as agreed with them.
Failure to resign will only succeed in presenting the ‘Babasopecracy’ in the words AriseTV’s Rufai Oseni as playing prank on the constitutionally established legislative arm of its own acclaimed state.
The attempted diversion of direction the meeting was believed to achieve came after Obasa was “re-elected” as Speaker on Monday following Mojisola Meranda‘s resignation from the position an arrangement believed to have been forced on the 40-member Assembly by the Nigerian presidency in Abuja.
In January, the lawmakers removed Obasa as Speaker, accusing him of poor leadership, abuse of power, frequent lateness to plenary sessions, and intimidating colleagues.
Over 90 percent of the lawmakers backed the impeachment.
Obasa, however, rejected the decision, saying the lawmakers did not follow the constitutional process for his removal.
He also denied the corruption allegations, calling the claims of financial misappropriation “impossible.”
To resolve the crisis, the Governor’s Advisory Council, led by Pa Tajudeen Olusi, along with APC chairman, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi; Lagos Attorney-General Lawal Pedro, and other party leaders, met with the opposing lawmakers.
There were speculations that as part of the agreement, Meranda would resign so that Obasa could return as Speaker.
However, sources claimed that Obasa was also expected to step down after 48 hours to allow a new Speaker from Lagos West, as demanded by the 34 lawmakers.
Reports indicated that the lawmakers insisting on this arrangement expect it to be followed up with an official letter.
