A Political Group, the Progressive Alliance of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from Lagos West Senatorial district have faulted the emergence of Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly.
It will be recalled that on Jan. 13, Mudasiru Obasa, who represented Agege 1 in Lagos West, was removed as speaker by 32 out of 40 members.
Obasa’s removal was attributed to allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office. In his place, Meranda, representing Apapa 1 in Lagos Central, was elected as the new speaker.
In a statement in Lagos on Monday by the group Secretary, Mr Segun Banjo, said though it had no issue with Obasa’s removal.
Banjo, however condemned Meranda emergence, labeling it an “ill-treatment” of party members from the Lagos West zone.
Banjo argued that Lagos West, which holds 20 out of the 40 seats in the Assembly, should have retained the speakership position in the spirit of justice and fairness.
He said: We have no issue with Obasa’s removal. Our concern, is that the lawmakers in electing Meranda as the new speaker were not well guided.
“It is appalling that they passed over all the eminently qualified 20 lawmakers from our zone, which has the largest electoral assets.
“This is in terms of votes and membership of the APC and handed it over to Lagos Central where Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu also comes from.
“It’s no where in the House’s rule book that if a speaker is removed, his replacement must be his deputy.
“Furthermore, examples of political correctness guided by fair distribution of political offices that address both religious and sectional interests abound in the political space in Nigeria.”
Banjo said it was unpleasant that some Governing Advisory Council members from West would sit by and allow the speakership position to slip away from their hands.
