Over the past several weeks, the leadership debacle in the Lagos State House of Assembly has reached a fever pitch, and it is now impossible to ignore the signs of a deep and disturbing crisis.
In what can only be described as a show of shame for Nigerian polity, over 25 members of the House have allegedly sealed a deal to defect to a yet‑to‑be‑announced political party.
Barring unforeseen developments, these members are poised to make their defection public very soon, a decision that speaks volumes about the internal fractures within the All Progressives Congress (APC) establishment.
This unfolding drama comes on the heels of the highly controversial refusal of Hon. Mudashiru Obasa to adhere to alleged agreement reached for him to have a soft landing by commuting his removal to resignation. Instead of uniting behind a coherent mandate, Obasa has chosen to display a leopard’s behaviour, shining his true colours by reneging on every alleged agreement reached with his colleagues. His intransigence, manifesting in his refusal to withdraw from court cases or to resign despite mounting pressure, is reminiscent of the shameless shenanigans that have plagued our institutions before.
The pressure exerted on members of The Mandate Movement (TMM) within the House has now become surreal.
Leaders from various constituencies are forcing their representatives to align with Hon. Obasa, threatening them with the ominous prospect that if they do not join his camp, they will be left without the necessary support for re-election in 2007.
And while the reference to 2007 may seem anachronistic, it is a grim reminder of past electoral manipulation tactics that still haunt the Nigerians political landscape.
Some of the most egregious show of shame of these coercion are:
In Lagos Mainland Local Government, Hon. Owolabi Ibrahim A. of Lagos Mainland 01 and Hon. Rasheed Shabi of Lagos Mainland 02 are reportedly being pressured by influential party operatives to switch allegiance. Hon. Owolabi Batola once a proud member of the House of Representatives and currently recognized as the Apex Leader of the APC in Lagos Mainland has vehemently refused to heed these entreaties, a decision that speaks to his integrity amidst a tide of opportunism.
From Ojo Local Government, Hon. Olusegun Ege (Ojo 01) and Hon. Tijani Suraju O. (Ojo 02), popularly known as “Emir,” have been strongly coerced into joining Hon. Obasa by a serving member of the National Assembly who is a prominent figure in the Mandate Movement.
Similarly, Hon. Akinsanya A. Nureni (OSMAK) of Mushin 01 and APC’s Hon. Olayinka Kazeem (Esho) of Mushin 02 have reportedly been directed by another key member of the TMM who is also a former member of the National Assembly.
In Ikeja, Hon. Adeseyi Lawal of Ikeja 01 is facing pressure allegedly from his Apex Leader, a key member of the present Lagos State cabinet.
Hon. Jimoh Orelope from Alimosho 01, younger brother of a former Deputy Governor in Lagos State is caught in a similar bind.
Hon. Abdulkareem Jubreel Ayodeji of Agege 02, from the same local government as Obasa, has allegedly been threatened by Obasa’s hired lings, being told that failure to align with Obasa will result in a lack of support during re-election.
Hon. Noheem Adams of Eti Osa 01, the erstwhile Majority Leader and a primary backer of Obasa, stands as a glaring testament to the coercive atmosphere.
The only female voice in this saga, Hon. Lara Oyekan-Olumegbon Lawal from Lagos Island 01, known widely as a lackey of Hon. Obasa, is under similar pressure.
These are not isolated cases. In fact, the very fabric of the House is under siege. The coercive tactics are so pervasive that over 30 other members have already chosen to defect to a new party, a party that has, by contrast, embraced them wholeheartedly and promises the capacity to challenge the APC both in the field and financially.
The determined reason for decamping is the resolve of APC leadership to punish these members seen as renegades and threat that they won’t give them return tickets even if promised. They have been tagged unpredictable.
Despite entreaty made by Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda by pleading with those planning to defect to give peace a chance to save her neck from EFCC and other security agencies harassment. It fell on deaf hears as this G25 are not ready to turn back. They claimed that the leadership of the Party has made up their minds and that all they are saying is a deflective tactics employed to keep them under leash and hit them really hurt at the appropriate time.
The G25 members are determined that once the majority takes over the House Assembly leadership on the new platform, the plan is to suspend Hon. Obasa indefinitely for gross misconduct with his shenanigans to bring the House into a disrepute.
The defecting members are looking at the strongest opposition Party that can protect them which makes the coalition building in the North West and North Central very attractive to them.
This development, according to them will release the jugular of Lagos from the strangulation that she is going through.
