Political Standoff: Inside Tinubu's Call to Reinstate Obasa

Three weeks after an impeachment that rocked the nation's commercial hub, persons acquainted with the situation told Dorotv that President Bola Tinubu has increased pressure on members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to permit Mudashiru Obasa to return as Speaker.

According to two persons, the Nigerian leader stated this past weekend that lawmakers should be ready to allow Mr. Obasa to return since punishing his excesses, which mostly centered on corruption and abuse of power, may have more political repercussions than the advantages of his removal. The ruling All Progressives Congress includes all but two of the legislature's 40 members.

A top Lagos politician who attended a number of meetings this weekend stated, "The president has sent instruction that we should start preparing to let him come back." "Obasa will only be in office for a short while before resigning on his terms," the president stated.

To disclose the specifics of internal political discussions, the politician said anonymously, "We have agreed to let him come back to give him a soft landing that he told us he deserved because of the serious political consequences of allowing this matter to endure." "If you asked me to make the final decision in this case, I would do it differently."

It would be challenging for individuals who took part in his impeachment, particularly those who distributed copies of The Gazette's report that preceded it, to return, according to some politicians.

According to a source, "we're worried that trying to pacify a snake after its head has been severed will be like trying to bring him back." "Its poison will be extremely lethal."

The president called a meeting in Abuja on Monday to encourage those who are not yet on board, according to a senior political official in Lagos who spoke to The Gazette.
"We can only see the beginning of this fight, not how it may end," the lawmaker stated, adding that many of us had agreed that he should be permitted to return. "Some of us who are still in Lagos are already getting ready to depart for Abuja, and the meeting is set for Monday."

After parliamentarians discovered through The Gazette's reporting that Mr. Obasa had embezzled billions of dollars in procurement allocations for cars and other commodities they never received, he was dismissed as Speaker on January 13. His replacement, Lasbat Mojisola Meranda, was announced right away. Despite having the support of at least 32 of the state's 40 lawmakers, officials claimed she had apparently allowed Mr. Obasa to intimidate her in her new position.

Ms. Meranda has not been permitted to move into the official mansion along Joel Ogunnaike, Ikeja G.R.A. since her inauguration as Speaker on January 13. According to information provided to the Gazette, Mr. Obasa, who was in the United States at the time of his impeachment, arrived in Abuja from Atlanta and proceeded straight to the Speaker's Lodge before making a victorious return to Lagos. He declared his impeachment unlawful upon his return and swore to stay in office.

According to a source, he requested permission to enter the official lodge in order to take his personal stuff. "However, he has refused to leave, and Madam Speaker has been too scared to succeed him."

The extent to which Remi Tinubu influenced her husband's decision to urge lawmakers to reinstate Mr. Obasa remained unknown. Days before, The Gazette had reported that the first lady had prevented the troubled politician from being arrested by the EFCC, an anti-corruption agency. She did, however, say that an inquiry into his use of public monies in Lagos might move forward.

The president's hold on the state's politics meant that no lawmaker would risk being perceived as hesitant to comply with his order, according to a source, but Mr. Tinubu's decision to reinstall Mr. Obasa should widen rifts among the Lagos political community.

According to our insider, "look, some lawmakers are really upset that the president chose to embarrass them in this way."

"However, they have no desire to spearhead any opposition to the president, who also serves as the leader of the party."

On Sunday morning, a presidential spokesperson informed The Gazette that he was not aware of the directive that the president had given to MPs in Lagos. On Sunday morning, Messrs. Obasa and Meranda chose not to comment.

In order to finalize his return as Speaker, which might happen as early as next week, Mr. Obasa met with Governor Jide Sanwo-Olu in Marina on Saturday, the Gazette also learned. The governor's spokesman acknowledged the meeting without providing further details.