Uneasy Calm In Lagos Assembly As Lawmakers Kick Against Smear Campaign Against Obasa

MICHAEL AKINOLA

There is an uneasy calm in the Lagos State House of Assembly as most lawmakers are angry at smear campaign against the House and its leadership allegedly by some lawmakers having sympathy for one of those who lost out in the speakership race of the House.

P.M.EXPRESS learnt that there have been attempts to smear the image of the House, particularly that of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa through publications of malicious stories some which have turned out to be false.

In one of such stories, it was alleged that the Speaker was at loggerheads with the most senior member of the House, Hon. Adebayo popularly called Pepper.

The publication also alleged that the Speaker is not having a good relationship with the leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) under which he holds the position while his aides were alleged to be owed salaries of several months.

This has however proven to be false.

In the first instance, it became obvious that there was never any rift between Pepper and the Speaker. In fact, at the time the story came out, both Pepper and the Speaker were on a vacation abroad.

Images of the Speaker and Pepper in the United Kingdom were released to the effect.

It was also proven that it is the state government which pays monthly salaries of the aides of the Speaker and none of them is owed any salary.

“I’m a staff of the Speaker and I can confirm to you that I’m not being owed any salary as my emoluments are paid as at when due. Moreover, it is the state government which pays our salaries and I can confirm to you that none of us is owed any salary or allowance,” Musbau Razak, Chief Press Secretary to the Speaker confirmed.

It was also learnt that the Speaker enjoys a cordial relationship with the leadership of the party in the state.

“The Lagos State House of Assembly under the leadership of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa is doing extremely well. The House has proven to be the reference point for everything positive in legislature in the country and the leadership of Rt. Hon. Obasa has impacted positively on the House. We’re very pleased with him and other members of the House,” Hakeem Bamgbala, APC Secretary in Lagos State revealed recently in an interview.

Another leader of the party revealed that the party leadership was particularly impressed with Obasa for his leadership qualities which led to the recent defection of six members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of the House to the APC.

One of the defectors, Hon. Fatai Oluwa has stated that he and his colleagues are impressed by quality leadership of Speaker Obasa.

It was also alleged that most lawmakers were not happy with the Speaker and that they were planning to impeach him.

“Where is that coming from?” Honourable Lanre Oshun queried when asked why the lawmakers were not happy with the Speaker and why they are planning to impeach him.

“The Speaker has led us well. This is my third term here and I can confidently tell you that Speaker Obasa has been a motivational leader who has impacted well on us the other lawmakers,” Oshun, who is the Chairman of the House Committee on Public Account (State) and fellow contestant for the speakership of the House, said.

Honourable Lanre Ogunyemi, Chairman of the House Committee on Education, also debunked any rift between the Speaker and the lawmakers.

“Those who are alleging rift between us and the Speaker is just being economical with the truth. We’re happy with the Speaker and we will continue to support him,” Ogunyemi said.

The Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, Hon Tunde Braimoh, condemned those spreading the rumour.

He described it as not only misleading but also malicious, adding: “this House has enjoyed peace and tranquility, I don’t know why some people will deliberately want to disrupt the peace of the House. This is totally unacceptable.”

Those close to Obasa claim the Speaker was being put on the spot by those not happy with his achievements and legislative prowess since he was picked to lead the House.

“They are afraid of the soaring ratings of the Speaker, hence they want to discredit him and smear his image. We’ve seen through their evil machination but they will not succeed. We’re behind the Speaker and we will continue to support him,” Hon Bisi Yusuff, Chairman of the House Committee on Public Accounts Committee (Local Government) said.