Lagos Assembly: Attention On ‘Zoning Arrangements’ As Speaker Meranda’s Political Future Hangs In The Balance
Hon Mojisola Meranda, who made history on Monday, January 13, 2025, by becoming the first woman to serve as Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly since the creation of the state on May 27, 1967, is unsure of what the future holds for her.
Her political future currently hangs in the balance.
Recall that Meranda had become the new Speaker following the removal of Hon Mudashiru Obasa during the plenary session held by the lawmakers on Monday, January 13, 2025.
Hon Mudashiru Obasa had won a sixth term in March 2023, and had on June 6,2023, gotten elected as Speaker for the third time.
Sources told Team@orientactualmags.com that Meranda may be asked to voluntarily resign from her position.
Barring unforeseen circumstances, members of the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) will meet with the lawmakers at 11 am today to resolve issues that have cropped up and take a definitive decision on leadership positions in the parliament.
Speaker Meranda is the younger sister of Oniru of Iru kingdom, His Royal Majesty, Oba Abdulwasiu Omogbolahan Lawal, Abisogun II .
The Iru monarch was the aide de camp to President Bola Tinubu while serving as governor of Lagos State. He later served as commissioner under Mr Raji Fashola, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode and Mr Jide Sanwo-Olu before his ascension to the throne in 2020.
It was reliably gathered that the plot to remove Obasa was hatched at his palace before subsequent meetings were held at other locations.
Team@orientactualmags.com learned that the major problems and challenges being faced by Meranda are ‘zoning arrangements’ and religion.
Before the removal of Obasa as Speaker, there was a kind of balancing; the governor – Lagos Central , the Deputy Governor – Lagos East and the Speaker-Lagos West.
Speaker Meranda is from Lagos Central; a development that made the senatorial district enjoy the privilege of producing occupants of the Speakership and the governorship positions.
Also, before Obasa’s removal as Speaker, it had the governor-a Christian, the Deputy Governor-A Muslim and the Speaker-a Muslim but with the new arrangements, it is now the governor-a Christian, the Deputy Governor-a Muslim and the Speaker-a Christian.
Sources told Team@orientactualmags.com that President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Mrs Remi Tinubu were also not comfortable with the idea of removing the Speaker while he was out of the country.
It was also learned that there may be a soft landing for Obasa which will have him preside over a plenary session after which he will announce his decision to resign, and a new person will emerge as Speaker .
‘Obasa is not returning as Speaker, it is only that they want a soft landing for him which will allow him to enjoy full benefits after leaving office. Meranda is not sure of what the future holds for her , she may retain her position, and she may be asked to allow a new person that will satisfy needed requirements become the new Speaker while she returns as Deputy Speaker.
The GAC leaders may also convince the stakeholders to have a decision-switch and allow Meranda to continue as Speaker notwithstanding the zoning arrangements’ said a source-Team@orientactualmags.com Do you have any information you wish to share with us? Do you want us to cover your event or programme? Kindly send SMS to 08059100286, 09094171980 or get in touch via orientactualmag@gmail.com. Thank you