Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, on Monday, apologised to President Bola Tinubu for initiating the impeachment process against the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, SaharaReporters has gathered.
The apology followed a directive given by the leadership of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) of the Lagos All Progressives Congress (APC) during an emergency meeting with the lawmakers at the Lagos House, Marina on Monday night.
GAC is the highest decision-making body of the Lagos APC.
The meeting also had in attendance Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his Deputy, Dr Obafemi Hamzat.
A source at the meeting disclosed that Tinubu wasn’t pleased with the impeachment move hence his insistence that it be upturned.
Some members of the GAC also accused its leadership of not carrying them along before Obasa’s removal, hence they supported the President’s directive for his reinstatement.
The source further told SaharaReporters that the lawmakers were told to write two apology letters to the President.
The source said, “Members of the GAC after many disagreements among themselves directed the lawmakers to write two apology letters to the President. It is obvious that the lawmakers didn’t want Obasa reinstated but it seems the President really wants him back. Also, GAC members are divided on the matter.
“I want to believe that apart from the reasons the President gave, I think he took that decision to avoid the state plunging into a crisis. Also, the President directed that the former Speaker be reinstated to check the excessiveness of the lawmakers. You know they removed the lawmakers without carrying some leaders of the party along.
“So, they were told to write two apology letters to the President which they instantly wrote. The first letter was to apologise for making the wrong move of impeaching the Speaker without informing the leaders of the party. In the letter, they promised to commute the removal of Obasa to resignation.
“The second letter was written by lawmakers from Lagos West to the President. In the letter, they accepted Hon. Mojisola Meranda as the Speaker of the House and told the President they would be disregarding the zoning formula. They expressed their willingness to allow her complete her term. Out of the 20 lawmakers from Lagos West, 17 signed the letter.”
Obasa was on January 13, 2025, removed by a majority of lawmakers over alleged misconduct, abuse of office, and financial misappropriations.
He was replaced by former deputy speaker, Mojisola Meranda.
Sources earlier told SaharaReporters that the action had led to a crisis within the party’s leadership.
The disagreement among the APC leaders earlier became evident when two GAC members, Senator Anthony Adefuye and Chief Muraina Taiwo, openly opposed Obasa’s removal, describing it as illegal and a sign of disregard for party leadership.
However, their stance was swiftly dismissed by another GAC member, Senator Musiliu Obanikoro, who described their comments as childish and inconsequential, urging party leaders to refrain from making hasty public statements on the issue.
The Peoples Gazette on Sunday reported that President Bola Tinubu had instructed members of the Assembly to prepare for the reinstatement of Obasa.
“The president has sent instruction that we should start preparing to let him come back,” a senior Lagos politician had told the online newspaper.
“The president said Obasa will spend only a short time before resigning on his terms.
“We have agreed to let him come back to give him a soft landing that he told us he deserved because of the serious political consequences of allowing this matter to endure,” the politician said, adding that they would have done things differently if they were wielding the power to make such an ultimate decision.
SaharaReporters also learnt that there will be another meeting of GAC and other APC stakeholders in the state to discuss the President’s response to the letters.
A lawmaker informed SaharaReporters that Governor Sanwo-Olu might also be involved in opposing Obasa’s reinstatement, in accordance with Tinubu’s directive to temporarily return him to his former position to facilitate a smooth transition.
“Tinubu’s instruction does not also sit well with Governor Sanwo-Olu, but he doesn’t want to be seen to be challenging the president’s authority openly.
“His mutiny is done under the table. A proof of this, is the meeting he had with Mandate members on Sunday where he was honest with them on the stance of Mr President.
“That same day, he met with some lawmakers to encourage them to continue to fight against any plan to return Obasa as Speaker,” the source added.
Meanwhile, there is reportedly a disquiet in the camp of those against Tinubu’s order.
“They are not comfortable with the order and are working tirelessly to scuttle it by fair or foul means.
“Political protest has started on Lagos Island where the new Speaker, Meranda, is from. The protest has the imprimatur of some top Lagosians. They want the status quo to be maintained,” the source said.
