Your going to court against indigenous Lagos Speaker Meranda ill-advised, Lagos youths warn Obasa

By KEMI KASUMU

An anonymous information available to this global online newspaper said, “I hear that it’s at the presidency level that he (Obasa) was advised. I learnt that Mojisola Lasbat Meranda was called to resign and that both Oniru and Elegushi have been warned not to back her.”

The Assembly of Lagos Youths has warned the ousted speaker, Mudashiru Ajaiyi Obasa, against his latest action of dragging the first indigenous and female Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly in many years, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, to court seeking her immediate removal for his reinstatement.

The DEFENDER reports that the Lagos youths are rising against Obasa’s resort to using the judiciary to achieve what many in certain quarters his President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-ordered reinstatement despite series of denial by the nation’s Presidency.

An anonymous information available to this global online newspaper said, “I hear that it’s at the presidency level that he (Obasa) was advised. I learnt that Mojisola Lasbat Meranda was called to resign and that both Oniru and Elegushi have been warned not to back her.

“As at 11p.m yesterday, I got to know all of these that infact, the person said they were VERY SURPRISED at Baba Olusi’s stand in this matter that he could support Mojisola Meranda,” the source, who spoke under struct demand for anonymity, revealed to The DEFENDER in an exclusive interview on Sunday February 15, 2025.

The source, therefore, urged leaders and eminent citizens of Nigeria who are indigenous to Lagos State, to stand up against this judiciary means President Tinubu is tactically taking to return Obasa in what was described as his continued show and evidence of hatred for seeing Lagos indigene occupying any relevant political position in own constitutionally guaranteed state.

“At this rate, all of you, elders, must call a meeting as soon as possible because what you see now playing out in Lagos House of Assembly is clearly a power struggle that of the Presidency versus Omo Eko,” it was said.

In furtherance to the revelations, Governor of Lagos State Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu is being blackmailed by the presidency to see to the fact that failure of Mojisola Meranda to resign as Speaker would lead to his being impeached as governor, a blackmail done to force the governor to stop his backing for the indigenous speaker.

“In fact, the way the presidency has planned it is that, if Mojisola Meranda doesn’t resign, Sanwo will be impeached. How far all these are, I don’t know, but that was the meeting held in his (Tinubu’s) house yesterday morning and they are all from Isale Eko a d All Progressives Congress (APC) to the core,” the impeccable source said.

“The House of Assembly is a representation of the people of Lagos State. We are not slaves to the presidency. They are residents in Lagos State, no more and no less. Let us see how it is evolving, and our reactions will happen,” another eminent Nigerian of Lagos origin also said.

In the meantime, the Assembly of Lagos Youths, in a statement released and signed by Lasisi Robert, sent to The DEFENDER on Sunday, warned the man at the centre of the game plan, Mudashiru Ajaiyi Obasa, to stop as allowing Tinubu’s presidency to use him to cause crisis in the state, it said, will not augur well with him and anyone who is backing him.

In the statement titled, “RE: LAWSUIT FILED BY HON. MUDASHIRU OBASA – A CALL FOR WITHDRAWAL IN THE INTEREST OF PEACE”, the Lagos youths made their rejection of the plans clearly stated in details.

“Our attention has been drawn to the lawsuit filed by Hon. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, challenging his impeachment as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly on January 13, 2025. The suit alleges that due process was not followed and that the removal was unconstitutional and unfair.

“At this critical time, pursuing legal action is ill-advised, as it risks exacerbating tensions within the Assembly. We urge Hon. Obasa to withdraw the lawsuit immediately in the interest of stability and the greater good of the state. The overwhelming majority of Assembly members—32 out of 39—have unequivocally expressed their position by removing Obasa as Speaker. Furthermore, the staff of the Lagos State House of Assembly have publicly affirmed their support for the new Speaker, Hon. Meranda, demonstrating that Hon. Obasa no longer commands the confidence of the House.

“The office of Speaker is not a lifelong position. Hon. Obasa served in this capacity for a decade, a significant period of leadership. Seeking to reclaim the seat through legal means, despite clear opposition from the Assembly, raises concerns about his motivations and long-term intentions for the state.

“It is also worth recalling that, during his bid for a third term as Speaker, notable elders in the state advised him to step aside due to various investigations against him but chose to ignore that counsel. The ongoing situation underscores deeper political dynamics within the ruling party, and this lawsuit may further expose underlying divisions.

“For democracy to flourish in Lagos State, it is imperative that Hon. Obasa prioritizes peace and stability over personal interests. The end of a political tenure does not mark the end of one’s contributions to society. In this spirit, we strongly advise him to reconsider his position and withdraw the lawsuit,” Lasisi Robert said in the Assembly of Lagos Youths’ statement.