Tinubu’s Political Empire Intact, Says Obasa -Denies Having Rift With Oshinowo

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has said that the political empire of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in Lagos remains intact and strong.

He stated this yesterday following the development in the Assembly earlier in the week, which has resulted in speculations in many quarters that there is a crisis within the APC family in Lagos State.

One of the speculations as reported is that of friction between Obasa and Senator Bayo Osinowo, a former member of the Assembly and a power broker and senator representing Lagos East in the National Assembly, which is said to be responsible for the action taken against the four lawmakers, who were said to have been ‘punished’ because of their loyalty to Osinowo, instead of Obasa.

 

The Speaker said that instilling discipline in lawmakers does not equate with friction in any form between him and members of the party.

He said that Asiwaju Tinubu had gone through a lot to build the APC in Lagos and Nigeria, adding that nobody in his right senses would do anything to be a clog in the wheel of the party’s progress.

“Tinubu remains everything to the continued success of the party he built from the scratch and nurtured up to this moment.

“It is unarguable that his resilience, love for democracy, passion to see his foot-soldiers grow and belief in discipline cannot be measured,” Obasa said.

He said that the APC in Lagos remained united, noting that what happened in the House involving the removal of two principal officers and the suspension of two others was a measure to ensure that the legislature remained strengthened and its sanctity maintained.

 

“The legislature must remain strong at all times, especially in relation to democracy because it is often the hardest hit where issues in the democratic journey pop up.

“This is why during plenary on Monday, I made this proclamation: ‘The parliament is a heartbeat of every democratic system, its sanctity, integrity and positive reputation should be guided and protected, hence discipline is a key and where it’s lacking, the hope of the people fizzles.”

To further prove that the Assembly is united, Obasa said 33 members sat at plenary on Tuesday with the newly elected principal officers including the deputy leader carrying out their tasks as expected.

The Speaker denied any rift between him and Osinowo, popularly called Pepper, who he described as a friend and mentor and with whose support he had excelled in legislative activities.

Stressing this cordial relationship, Obasa said that he was with Osinowo on Tuesday and that they both drove in his convoy.

“I was the one that dropped Senator Osinowo off on his way to Abuja yesterday. If there is a rift between us, will that happen?”

It will be recalled that on Monday two members of the House, Hon. Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland Constituency 2) and Hon. Kazeem Raheem Adewale (Ibeji Lekki Constituency 2) were suspended indefinitely during plenary along with two principal officers; the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh and the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru.

In announcing the suspension of the members, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa stated that the House is the hope of the people and the heartbeat of democracy and that it should be well guided.

"I hereby invoke Section 68 and Section 70 4 (a, b) 2 and 3 of the House rules in respect of gross misconduct, insurbodination and action that can destablise this House i hereby move that Hon. Moshood Oshun and Hon. Raheem Adewale be placed on suspension indefinitely," the Speaker said.

The two decisions were supported through voice votes by the members present during plenary.

The request for the removal of the two Principal

Officers and change in the leadership was contained in a letter read on the floor of the House by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni.

Mr. Sanni stated that the 26 members that signed the letter wished to notify the House "to change the leadership of the House including, Hon. Rotimi Abiru as the Chief Whip and Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh."

The removal of the principal officers and suspension of the two members came amidst speculation that there were critical issues that could divide the House and "that more revelations might come in the coming days."