Meranda’s security details withdrawn, Obasa’s restored, as pressure mounts on indigenous Lagos Assembly Speaker to resign

By KEMI KASUMU, OUR REPORTERS, Lagos

In the meantime, some Lagos youths under the aegis of Assembly of Lagos Youths have warned that if anything happens to “our princess and blood, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda due to this despicable act in a state on which shoulder the president of Nigeria rose to Abuja, it will not be funny.”

As information reaching us says pressures from Abuja ceaselessly mounted on the indigenous Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, to step down for former and non-indigenous Speaker Mudashiru Ajaiyi Obasa, update from Alausa says all police escorts attached to the first female Speaker have been withdraw.

This was confirming speculations when recently the police commissioner in the state was removed as some watchers of event then said it was to bring another police commissioner who would not take instructions from Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, who is believed to have thrown his weight behind the Speaker.

It is also further confirmation of those that said President Bola Tinubu’s public tonguelashing of Obasa while in office as Speaker was for him to merely do a face saving at a time some opposition parties including New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) and Labour Party (LP) addressed a press conference accusing the president of using Obasa to undermine the upcoming ming Local Government elections in the state.

Obasa, The DEFENDER gathered, was being supported by Tinubu because Aso Rock landlord of the present – for political reasons – no longer has his estwhile political godson for the whole of the 2023 presidential election period in his good book.

In effect, it was further gathered that Mudashiru Obasa became the eye of the president as his most (if not the only) trusted ally standing to help check the sitting Governor especially in matters he must not be seen to be involved in as president of world’s most important black country.

This explains, according to our sources, why and how Obasa – despite allegations of corruption and abuse of office against him and for which he was removed – not only has been elusive to arrest and prosecution by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) but also has gotten the gut to make his ongoing controversial fight for reinstatement as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

To further aid his reinstatement fight is said to be the reason for withdrawal of police security details of the femake Speaker Thursday morning.

Confirming this development, an aide to the Speaker said not only security of his boss but also those police operatives attached to secure the Lagos House of Assembly Complex at Alausa Ikeja were also withdrawn with immediate effect.

The DEFENDER reports that this singular act of Abuja alone is raising concerns about security at both the legislative building and for the Speaker herself.

Also while confirming the development, the Speaker’s aide, specifically her Special Adviser on Information, Victor Ganzallo, voiced serious concerns over the sudden removal of security personnel, describing it as an alarming situation.

“As we speak, all security has been withdrawn from the Speaker, and she is now on her own,” Ganzallo stated.

He cautioned that the Speaker now faces heightened security risks, stressing the urgent need to address the situation and restore adequate protection.

The rationale behind the withdrawal remains uncertain, as neither the Lagos State Police Command nor the state government has issued an official explanation.

This development has sparked concerns over the safety of government officials and the overall security of the Lagos State House of Assembly complex.

In the meantime, some Lagos youths under the aegis of a concerned indigenous youths of Lagos have warned that if anything happens to “our princess and blood, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda due to this despicable act in a state on which shoulder the president of Nigeria rose to Abuja, it will not be funny.

“We are using this time to continue to express our confidence in Meranda and also call on her never to succumb to their pressures because God and all Nigerians are with her and other lawmakers fighting for their father’s land along with her. If you succumb, Tinubu will enslave Lagos till death,” they said.

Obasa’s security restored as impeached speaker prepares for return

Meanwhile, Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, who was removed as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 13, 2025, is set to reclaim his position.

Reports indicate that Obasa’s security details have been reinstated, while those of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda have been withdrawn.

Meranda, who previously served as Obasa’s deputy, was unanimously elected as Speaker following his removal, making history as the first female to occupy the position in Lagos State.

Although she has not formally resigned, her tenure was reportedly decided over the weekend by key figures in the All Progressives Congress (APC), who stepped in to resolve the crisis within the Assembly.

Former APC National Chairman Chief Bisi Akande, former Osun State Governor Chief Olusegun Osoba, former Commissioner for Justice Dr. Muiz Banire, members of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), and several lawmakers convened to mediate the situation.

During the meeting, Meranda was allegedly asked to step down. Sources familiar with the discussions suggest that Obasa’s return is imminent, following a resolution that largely favored his reinstatement.

“In truth, what they said was that Obasa’s removal was illegal, and the lawmakers were directed at the meeting to go and return him,” an insider disclosed.

It remains uncertain when the House will reconvene to formalise the anticipated changes.

Two weeks ago, Meranda had adjourned plenary indefinitely following an uproar in the Assembly caused by the invasion of Department of State Services (DSS) operatives.