WHAT does Mudashiru Obasa know about President Ahmed Bola Tinubu that makes him act with such affront to constituted authority? Why does Tinubu pander to Obasa? Is Obasa untouchable, above the law with the backing of the law?
Only those who know can tell us. We can only believe them at our own peril. If I am to speculate, I would say nothing.
In politics, they say things are so possible, that “impossible” means that though something has never happened it can still happen. Obasa, three-term Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, could be exploring the generosities of the uncharted courses of politics to his causes.
He had long announced that his eyes were on being the next Governor of Lagos. It was apparently his reaction to signals that the First Son was being made to be interested in the governorship of Lagos State.
Such behaviour when the President’s son has been openly mentioned should not be recorded as politeness. A quick retort is that Obasa opposing the President’s son without consequences meant Tinubu is democratic to the point of not siding his son in a race.
Those who claim they know say that all these swing to Tinubu’s favour. After the fierce battle for the ticket, Seyi, the First Son would get it. Obasa would have had his say, and the President his way. If the Lagos contest distracts Tinubu’s second-term dream, Seyi could step down. What a great sacrifice!
Obasa has been Speaker for almost 10 years. The contest for longest-serving Speaker would be between him and Hon. Sabit Adeyemi Ikuforiji who served from December 2005-June 2015. Obasa has been Speaker since 2015. His status is currently indeterminate with the legal tussle over the office.
Tinubu is a great beneficiary of the Lagos House troubles. The distraction is one that serves Tinubu as his government wobbles without direction. Who is Obasa to sit at plenary with four legislators when 36 have impeached him? The President reportedly asked Obasa to resign as the Speaker. He has ignored Tinubu. Who would he not ignore?
Police personnel attached to Hon. Mojisola Miranda, the Speaker, were withdrawn because of an on-going police personnel audit, according to State Commissioner of Police, Moshood Jimoh. Friday, when Obasa stormed the State House of Assembly as Speaker he had enough police personnel who I suspect had been audited but unavailable to Hon. Miranda. Was the President unaware?
House spokesman Olukayode Ogundipe, lamented, “We are shocked to see what is happening today. We won’t take laws into our hands, just like I told the staff members.
“We are not happy and we are already demystified. We’ve been law-abiding, we’ve not gone out of our ways, we’ve not done anything against the state or anybody but we also want to be respected, to be given our dignity, to be shown that we were elected. So, I’m appealing to the leadership of our party that we cannot continue this way”.
Some of the good things about democracy are that the rights to be shocked, and unhappy, are unhindered and in this instance, they were enhanced. Hon. Ogundipe and his colleagues were dismayed at the lawlessness at the State Assembly.
“I remain the Speaker of the Assembly. I’m not against removal, it’s constitutional, but you must comply with the provisions of the Constitution and rules of the House,” Obasa said.
Tinubu has seen Gen Ibrahim Babangida’s controversial book help him ride through the previous week. He can squeeze more distractions from the strong ripples of the book as more people pick out more issues that hold the public interest.
While we wrangle and tangle over major and minor beneficiaries of Babangida’s autobiography, lives of Nigerians are getting worse. Insecurity, hunger, diseases, a declivitous economy assault Nigerians daily. No remedy is in sight.
Tinubu has signed the 2025 Appropriation of over N54.99 trillion. Should we discuss Obasa, IBB, the budget or our individual daily challenges?
The 41.9% increase on the 2024 budget, and theming the 2025 money law, ‘The Restoration Budget: Securing Peace, Rebuilding Prosperity’ could be its salient points.
Next we would be talking about the President’s next trip – predictably to France – and why the new presidential jet could do with some repairs or outright purchase of a new one. There would be trite debates on the importance of loans to the economy.
The President would be glad that he would get a breather before our worries overwhelm him.
Distractions are critical to the survival of the government. No effort would spared in harnessing distractions.
Tinubu should conclude the Obasa script quickly. He needs to explore his other strategies. There are many months left in 2025.
Obasa resorting to self-help when the matter is in court is not a behaviour that should be associated with the President. If it is not checked, others could imitate Obasa.
The abusive use of the police heightens insecurity in the State. Other States are learning. Tension mounts everytime the Lagos Assembly meets.
Obasa is nothing without Tinubu. Obasa has done enough to be called to order. Or has he not?
The silence and inaction suggest that there is no “exit strategy” or the puppeteer finds the puppet’s performance enthralling. None of these reasons is a great idea on how to stabilise Nigeria to gain the peace it requires to improve her people.
Finally…
SENATOR Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan Friday alleged on Arise TV that her troubles in the Senate were from her refusal to engage in inappropriate relationship with Senate President Dr. Godswill Akpabio. Most people would not have known that the Akpabios and Uduaghans were family friends until Akpabio’s wife, Unoma, rose in stout defence of her husband. Aside of this matter is in court. Unoma threatens a suit too.
IMMEDIATE past President Muhammadu Buhari has relocated from his native Funtua to Kaduna. Some of his followers celebrated the move. Many in Katsina State placed their hope in his presence keeping bandits at bay. They have been disappointed. His departure to safer Kaduna is an illustration of the intensity of the security situation in Katsina.
KIDNAPPING for ransom is at the stage where most forests in Nigeria are unsafe. Geographical location makes no difference. The difference, and it is major, is that the crimes are under reported in some cases. Our forests are on fire from the type of crimes those who occupy them commit. Have these ungoverned territories been conceded to criminals?
DEATHS on the roads keep increasing in number of incidents, frequency, and number of lives lost. In the more recent cases, tankers distributing fuels are involved. If a fraction of the deaths on the roads are by air mishaps, the uproar would unsettle tne country. Governments, please act fast.
ELECTRICITY supply to Abuja has been more noticeably chaotic. We are told that some parts of the presidential villa are also affected. When would these insults stop? Are ordinary Nigerians “presidential villa”? Do we use public funds to fuel our generators? If government is unconcerned about our flight, no surprise though, it should confirm so.
ISIGUZO is a major commentator on minor issues
