VIDEO: Why Obasa, a non-indigene, cannot possibly return as Lagos Assembly Speaker, says Bank-Anthony

By KEMI KASUMU

As the Baba sope (dictatorial godfatherism) thing that has permeated the politics of Lagos State since return of democracy in 1999 has now begin to hit the rock with indigenous lawmakers of All Progressives Congress (APC), who are in the majority, saying ‘Enough is Enough”, more voices are coming up to explain why Mudashiru Ajaiyi Obasa, a confirmed non-indigene of Lagos State, cannot be returned by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Speaker of the state House of Assembly.

Obasa was removed while away in his expansive mansion in Georgia, Atlanta, United States of America on January 13, 2025 in connection with allegations bothering on corruption and abuse of office.

President Tinubu had been reported severally to have ordered the Assembly’s 32 of 40 members who removed him to reinstate him but the order continued to fail as the lawmakers insisted Obasa was gone forever as ousted speaker.

Although Tinubu, characteristically, would not come out to talk about how he is connected with the political crisis in the state considered to be the Nigeria’s largest economy, words from several quarters in and outside of Lagos State claim he cannot possibly dissociate himself with it as they say he wants to bring Obasa back to effectively seal his plan to finally stamp out any access indigene of the state could have to political power in the state only they are guaranteed by the Constitution to own and govern.

Lagos has been governed by non-indigenes, not from other regions but from other Yoruba states of South West region, for about the 26 years of the Fourth Republic that democracy has been operated in the country.

Tinubu’s plan, the complaints say, is to continue to impose non-indigenes as governor, deputy Governor, speaker among others using either his son, Seyi Tinubu, or Mudashiru Obasa as Governorship Candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to succeed Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu in 2027. But opposition to those plans say emperorship has a life span of no more than 25 years and this ask the president to go and find out how it has been in history, saying his time as emperor of Lagos State politics has transcended it’s natural time and must now end.

This new political order is said to be playing out in the current political crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly over which even chieftain of his own party (APC) and indigene of the state, Mr. Babatunde Bank-Anthony, questioned the legitimacy of Mudashiru Ajaiyi Obasa’s leadership as speaker.

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Bank-Anthony, who spoke during a Channels Television interview programme earlier in the week, argued that Obasa is not an indigene of Lagos State and was unfairly selected over native candidates from Lagos West Senatorial District.

“The Speaker cannot equate himself to the Governor of Lagos State, it’s not possible. The Governor is from Lagos Island, Meranda is from Apapa, and if you’re talking about that, is Obasa a Lagosian?” Bank-Anthony asked, casting doubt on Obasa’s eligibility.

He further elaborated on how Obasa rose to power despite the presence of other qualified candidates.

“He was a Speaker from Lagos West. Lagos West is a very indigenous area, you have Ojo, Badagry, and other areas. They have chosen him above the indigenes of Lagos State. You are in borrowed robes here,” he said.

Bank-Anthony reaffirmed the legitimacy of the newly elected Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, insisting that her leadership is recognized.

“We know who the Speaker is, and we know who the principal officers are, and we know who the clerk is. If anything is going to happen, the Speaker of the House today will recall our members back to the House,” Babatunde Bank-Anthony assured.

As the crisis deepens, Speaker Meranda, who presided over plenary session where 36 members passed vote of conference on her while condemning the invasion of the Lagos State House of Assembly by operatives of Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), adjourned the Assembly sittings, indefinitely.

She did so citing suspected interference from powerful interests.

Tensions have escalated, with some staff and lawmakers reportedly threatening resignation should Meranda be removed.

In the meantime, controversy continues to surround the presence of the Department of State Services (DSS) and police operatives at the Assembly.

The DSS claimed they responded to an official security request for the February 18 sitting, but House Committee Chairman on Information, Strategy, and Security, Stephen Ogundipe, disputed their access to the chambers, stating that they were only authorized to guard the main gate.

In response, 36 lawmakers demanded explanations from the Lagos DSS Director and called on National Security Adviser (NSA), Nuhu Ribadu, to investigate the matter and provide a public report on the invasion.

With the Assembly in turmoil and political tensions running high, Lagosians remain on edge, watching to see how the unfolding power struggle will impact governance in the state.