Daud Olatunji
A former Minister of Communications, Maj. Gen. Tajudeen Olanrewaju (retd.), has condemned the reinstatement of Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, describing it as a blow to democracy and a betrayal of legislative independence.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Olanrewaju argued that democracy in Lagos suffered a fatal setback on March 3, 2025, when the House “re-elected” Obasa after his impeachment, despite Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda securing majority votes to become Speaker.
Olanrewaju questioned the legitimacy of the decision, warning that such actions erode democratic principles and set a dangerous precedent.
“When lawmakers cannot implement a legitimate resolution of their own free will, then rules and values will no longer matter.
“ Are we not witnessing the gradual collapse of democracy?” he asked.
The retired general also dismissed the justification given by the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC), which claimed that Obasa’s resignation was not part of the agreement to resolve the Assembly crisis.
“The loser has become the winner on the basis of an agreement. So, the election that was hailed with the best of intentions has suddenly changed nothing for the better,” he stated, suggesting that unseen political forces influenced the decision.
Olanrewaju further alleged that the resolution of the crisis may have been influenced by political power brokers beyond Lagos, particularly from Abuja.
“Only time will tell whether the outcome of this crisis benefits the people of Lagos or serves the interest of a select few,” he said.
He also expressed concern over what he described as a deliberate sidelining of Lagos indigenes in governance.
“The removal of Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as Speaker has left a sour taste in the mouths of the indigenous citizens of Lagos.
“The ruling elites seem unwilling to accommodate indigenes in the governance of the state,” he lamented.
Looking ahead to the 2027 elections, Olanrewaju called for a political reset in Lagos, urging citizens and stakeholders to take a stand against what he described as an entrenched political structure that does not prioritize democratic values.
“Lagos politics needs a new roadmap in 2027. Indigenes and well-meaning residents must step forward and take back control,” he declared.
The crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly has sparked widespread debate, with many questioning the implications of Obasa’s return on the independence of the legislature and the state’s political future.
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