Former Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly Mudashiru Obasa was absent yesterday when the lawmakers resumed duties.
Obasa had described his removal as unconstitutional and laid claim to the office at the weekend. However, in spite of his insistence on being the Speaker, he did not show up at the premises.
The new Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, was escorted into the presiding officer’s office by some lawmakers.
Meranda’s assumption of office was applauded by her colleagues who sang solidarity songs. Speaker Meranda prayed on entering the office.
After sitting on the Speaker’s seat, Deputy Speaker, Fatai Mojeed, Majority Leader, Temitope Adedeji, and Deputy Majority Leader, Richard Kasunmu, took a picture with her.
The absence of Obasa, who had promised to resume duties yesterday, has raised questions about his next step. The lawmakers, however, reaffirmed their support for the new Speaker.
Chairman, House Committee on Information, Stephen Ogundipe, announced that the plenary scheduled for 11am had to be postponed due to the ongoing reorganization and internal matters.
According to him, the plenary would resume as soon as the re-organisation of the committees is concluded.
The security operatives sighted at the Assembly complex included officers of the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.
There was a stop and search at each entrance to the Assembly to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
Former Deputy Majority Leader, Olumuyiwa Jimoh, called for the suspension of Obasa over claims of impersonation.
Jimoh in a television interview said that Obasa’s insistence on being the Speaker was an act of impersonation.
“Obasa claims that he is still the speaker, which I think he knows that the implication is automatic suspension. I feel he should be suspended for that. It is an impersonation,” Jimoh said.