The political landscape of Lagos State is in turmoil, and it’s not just an isolated skirmish within the corridors of power. The ongoing battle for the position of Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly between the embattled Mudashiru Obasa and his rival, Mojisola Meranda, is nothing short of a microcosm of the larger dysfunctions plaguing the state. And at the heart of this crisis is none other than President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose alleged support for Obasa is turning this power struggle into a dangerous precedent for democratic governance. Mudashiru Obasa’s return to the speaker’s position, after being impeached by a majority of the state assembly members, has raised concerns about the state of democracy in Lagos. The fact that Obasa was reinstated after his removal by 36 lawmakers reflects a crisis of legitimacy within the state legislature. As of today, the Lagos State House of Assembly is divided, with factions backing either Obasa or the newly appointed Speaker, Mojisola Meranda. It’s a high-stakes battle that has far-reaching consequences not just for the state legislature, but for the democratic process as a whole.
Obasa’s statement during an interview on Channels TV’s Politics Today, where he proclaimed himself a loyal disciple of Tinubu since his school days, provides some insight into the tangled web of political patronage that has made this crisis so difficult to resolve. “I have always been one of his disciples,” Obasa says, referencing the long-standing relationship he has had with the president. “I have always been a loyalist,” he continues, signaling that his political allegiance to Tinubu has been the bedrock of his rise to power. This loyalty, however, begs the question; how much influence should a sitting president have over the internal workings of a state assembly? While Obasa’s devotion to Tinubu may seem like a personal matter, it raises questions about the degree of control the president is exerting over the state of Lagos. It’s one thing for politicians to align themselves with party leaders, but it’s another when that loyalty becomes a tool for subverting the democratic process.
Tinubu’s support for Obasa is more than just political. His influence is shaping the outcome of the speaker’s battle in ways that undermine the very principles of democracy. This is no longer just about Obasa’s personal ambitions; it’s about the erosion of democratic checks and balances. Tinubu, with his far-reaching influence, is turning the Lagos State House of Assembly into a political battleground, where the rule of law is secondary to loyalty and power. The implications of this are far-reaching. A vibrant democracy depends on a legislature that is independent and able to act in the interest of the people it serves. When power becomes concentrated in the hands of a single leader or faction, it destroys the checks and balances that are meant to safeguard public trust and ensure accountability. In the case of Lagos, Tinubu’s long-standing grip on power in the state has essentially turned legislature into a rubber stamp for his own agenda, with little regard for the actual needs and interests of the people.
It is important to understand that Obasa’s return is not just about one man’s ambition; it’s a symptom of the larger problem of political centralisation that has plagued Lagos for decades. The state has long been viewed as a political fiefdom controlled by Tinubu and his loyalists, with the governor, the legislature, and other key institutions functioning as mere extensions of his will. This concentration of power threatens the very foundation of democratic governance, where institutions should be designed to serve the public, not personal or party interests. Also, the division within the House of Assembly, with factions supporting both Obasa and Meranda, highlights the chaos that has ensued in the absence of a clear and fair process for resolving political disputes. Instead of seeking peaceful, democratic resolutions, politicians in Lagos are resorting to legal battles and power grabs that further divide the state and its institutions. This lack of stability and coherence is harmful to governance, as it distracts from the real issues that need attention.
It is also worth noting the involvement of the judiciary in this crisis. Obasa’s legal challenge to his removal has brought the courts into the political fray, raising questions about the impartiality of the judiciary in the face of powerful political forces. The involvement of high-profile lawyers like Chief Afolabi Fashanu and Tayo Oyetibo further highlights the ties between the legal and political elites, suggesting that the resolution of this dispute may be more about political maneuvering than about upholding democratic principles. But perhaps the most troubling aspect of this situation is the message it sends about the state of Nigerian democracy as a whole. When powerful political figures can openly flaunt the rule of law and manipulate the system to maintain their hold on power, it weakens the foundations of democratic governance. It sets a precedent where political loyalty and patronage take precedence over the rule of law.
In summary, the fight for the speakership of the Lagos State House of Assembly is not just about Mudashiru Obasa or Mojisola Meranda, it is about the future of democracy in Lagos and Nigeria as a whole. President Bola Tinubu’s backing of Obasa only serves to deepen the crisis while making it clear that political loyalty and patronage are now the driving forces behind governance in Lagos. This is a bad trend that threatens to undermine the integrity of the democratic process, and it must be challenged if Nigeria is to achieve the kind of democratic governance that its people deserve. The rule of law, not political loyalty, must be the cornerstone of governance in any democratic society!
This is the opinion of the writer and not the view of this platform.
