President Bola Tinubu has settled the leadership crisis tearing the Lagos State House of Assembly, backing Mudashiru Obasa to remain Speaker despite an earlier recommendation for his resignation.
Mr. Tinubu made the decision during a closed-door meeting with all 40 lawmakers at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday, overriding a mediation panel’s suggestion that Obasa should step down.
The panel, led by former Osun State Governor Chief Bisi Akande and former Ogun State Governor Olusegun Osoba, had initially advised that Obasa return as Speaker temporarily before resigning to allow for a power balance in the state.
However, after Obasa’s reinstatement on March 3, he refused to step down and instead adjourned the Assembly indefinitely.
His removal on January 13 had come after 35 lawmakers accused him of high-handedness, financial misappropriation, and authoritarian rule.
During the meeting, Tinubu urged lawmakers to put their differences aside and work together for the stability of the Assembly and the state.
A presidency source disclosed that following Tinubu’s intervention, all lawmakers agreed to cooperate with Obasa.
“With this development, Obasa’s position is no longer under threat. The lawmakers have pledged to work with him,” the source said.
Meanwhile, Tinubu also directed Obasa to withdraw his lawsuit challenging his impeachment at the Lagos State High Court.
The Speaker had previously insisted on pursuing the case despite his reinstatement, citing the severity of the allegations leveled against him.
Justice Yetunde Pinheiro of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja had adjourned the hearing of the case to March 17.
However, with Tinubu’s intervention, Obasa is expected to drop the legal battle in the coming days.
Although, some Lagos stakeholders are reportedly displeased that the original agreement was not honored, sources say Tinubu plans to further engage all parties to maintain political unity in the state.