Tinubu Backs Obasa As Lagos Speaker

By Oladipupo Awojobi

The national leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has thrown his weight behind the candidacy of Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa to emerge as the next Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The meeting was said to have taken place at Bourdillon, Ikoyi residence of the APC national leader, with the contenders and other lawmakers on the party platform said to be present.

They pointedly accused the elders, who also consisted of the Deputy Speaker, Kolawole Taiwo, of imposition and arm- twisting, even as they insisted that Obasa has no wherewithal to lead the House to measure up or surpass the record of the incumbent, Adeyemi Sabit Ikuforiji.

It was gathered that at the meeting, where some of the lawmakers were said to have been allowed to speak their minds, Tinubu was said to have taken the decision to back Obasa based on majority opinion.

Tinubu was also said to have backed Wasiu Eshinlokun, a returnee lawmaker after 12 years’ exit from the Lagos Assembly for the position of Deputy Speaker.

Eshinlokun is representing Lagos Central and was said to have been favoured on that account, as the governor, Akinwunmi Ambode hails from Lagos East while the deputy governor, Aderanti Adebule is from Lagos West.

The position of Deputy House Leader and Deputy Whip were said to have been ceded to Wahab Jimoh and Odunitan respectively, while that of Majority Leader was yet to be decided between Lateef Rotimi Abiru and Sanai Agunbiade.