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Tag: Hon. Mudashiru Obasa

  • Lagos speaker calls on Adeleke to support Oyetola

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has urged the defeated governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke, to prove his commitment to the residents of the state by supporting Governor Gboyega Oyetola.

    Speaker Obasa said this in reaction to the Supreme Court judgement which, on Friday, July 5, reaffirmed the ruling of an appeal court which earlier upheld the victory of Oyetola of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    In a personally signed statement, Obasa expressed happiness at the decision of the apex court and Adeleke’s reaction in which the latter said he never took the September 2018 governorship election as do-or-die.

    “I join other Nigerians in congratulating Governor Gboyega Oyetola over this historic victory. I also thank the people of the State of Osun for remaining resolute in their support for our party and the governor.

    Read Also: Osun: Jubilation as Supreme Court upholds Oyetola’s election

    “I want to urge the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to have a broader focus of joining hands with Governor Oyetola to move Osun to a higher height.

    To the people of the state, Obasa emphasised that this was the best time to sustain their trust and support for the government which is confirmed to have hit the ground running.

    The Lagos Speaker also commended the leadership of the APC, including Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, over the party’s victory in Osun just as he noted that the doors of the ruling party are wide open to receive as many well-meaning Osun people as possible.

  • Rumbles in states over Assembly speakership

    As the states prepare to inaugurate their new Houses of Assembly, our correspondents report on the intrigues trailing the search for the new Speakers. Excerpts

    Desperate search for the chamber lords

    The plum seats overlooking all the others at the hollowed chambers of the various state Houses of Assembly in Nigeria are simply awe inspiring. Designed to be occupied not by a god, but by one of the elected lawmakers, aptly described by the honourable members as ‘the first among equals,’ the occupant of this unique seat is considered very powerful in the politics of the state, not only because the revered occupant, as the Speaker, is the third citizen in the state, but more importantly because he leads all the most powerful elected officials in the state with the exception of the governor and the deputy governor.

    Also, aside the fact that the lawmakers he leads are the true representatives of the grassroots and that they have the constitutional power to make and amend laws, he and the other lawmakers also have the awesome power to impeach any governor or his deputy if and whenever they deem it necessary.

    Aware of this rather frightening reality, the politics of election of the Speaker and that of the other members of the leadership of each state House of Assembly, like what now obtains at the National Assembly, has become quite intriguing. Not only are the governors desperate to ensure they install their supporters as the Speakers and Leaders of their Assemblies, ruling political parties and other political godfathers in the states are also playing active roles in the intricate game of power.

    We gathered, for example, that even before the May 29, 2019 swearing-in of state governors across the country, the search for the leadership of state Assemblies has taken the centre stage in the politics of the country, though it was then mainly played behind the doors by the then governors-elects and other interested godfathers and stakeholders.

    Today, as the new governors look forward for the inauguration of the state Assemblies in order to kick start the new administration, there is tension as various interest groups move to determine the lawmaker to seat on the powerful plum seat.

    From Abakaliki in Ebonyi State, to Minna in Niger State and Abeokuta in Ogun State, we learnt that governors and other godfathers are not sleeping and are not ready to take chances.

    Reports from our correspondents also show that the issue of who presides over the state Assemblies now goes beyond what the lawmakers want or even what the governors themselves desire as zones and other interest groups within the polity have joined in the politics of State Assemblies.

    Already, powerful aspirants have emerged, but it seems certain that until the day of election and inauguration, nobody is certain of anything. So until then, the tension builds on.

    EBONYI: NWIFURU SET

    TO BE RE-ELECTED

    From Ogochukwu Anioke, Abakaliki

    IN Ebonyi State, the incumbent Speaker, Francis Nwifuru, is set to be re-elected by his colleagues following the interventions by the State Governor David Umahi.

    15 of the 24 members from the outgoing set were re-elected during the last general election. All 24 members of the House were elected under the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) which also swept all the National Assembly’s positions in the state.

    A source with inside knowledge of the recent politicking and horse trading over the next Speaker of the Ebonyi State House of Assemly revealed to The Nation that immediately after the elections, some ranking members of the House began scheming for the speakership position, among them a floor functionary of the House from Ebonyi South Senatorial zone.

    Also, some members of the governor’s kitchen cabinet were said to also be against the return of the Speaker. Their thinking being that Nwifuru, who is alleged to be nursing a serious ambition to succeed Umahi in 2023, will be very dangerous and more powerful to contend with if the powers that be do not support him.

    Some National Assembly members, who are also eyeing the governorship position come 2023, have also made moves to stop his re-election but the governor was resolute and in the end had his way as he was able to convince them all to allow Nwifuru who has been very loyal to be returned when the House is inaugurated.

    One thing that is in Nwifuru’s favour is the zoning structure that has been in place over the years in the state which recommends that the top three positions be shared among the three senatorial zones of the state.

    Umahi hails from Ebonyi South while his Deputy, Kelechi Igwe, is from Ebonyi Central zone. That was why Nwifuru from the North was given the Speaker in 2015.

    Governor Umahi has also been a strong advocate of second term which is why he is backing Nwifuru to be retained.

    Barring any last minute change of mind, the incumbent Speaker, Nwifuru, is set to be re-elected.

    ABIA: A LIKELY

    TWO HORSE RACE

    From Sonny Nwankwo, Umuahia

    The speakership of the Abia State House of Assembly remains one of the most topical issues in the state as intrigues surrounding it is already causing bad blood amongst members of yet to be constituted Assembly, especially of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

    An investigation by The Nation shows that unlike in the past where the position of speakership may have been zoned to a particular part of the state, until the May 29 swearing-in of the re-elected governor into power, there have been serious political meetings going on with some of them ending in crisis.

    It was gathered from a reliable source that the majority of members of the yet-to-be inaugurated from the ruling PDP and other parties are divided between the two major contending candidates; incumbent Speaker of the State House, Rt. Hon. Chikwendu Kalu, representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency and the Majority Leader of the State House of Assembly, Hon. Chindeum Orji, representing Umuahia Central State Constituency.

    Chinedum Orji, who is the son of the former governor of Abia State, sources at the State House of Assembly said, had allegedly nursed the ambition of becoming the Speaker of the House of Assembly in 2015 but had to drop the ambition after some stakeholders of the party intervened and mounted pressure on him to jettison such ambition.

    Though Jnr Orji and Kalu are yet to make public their intentions to run for the number three seat in the state, their loyalists, however, have taken to the social media canvassing support for their principals and in some cases, throwing banters against one another which is heating up the polity.

    While the two top contenders as at the time of filing this report are eminently qualified to contest for the position, there are factors that could, however, affect their candidacy.

    Apart from the fact that the two contenders are second-term lawmakers, by the PDP zoning formula, both of them come from the same Abia Central zone where the speakership of the State House of Assembly is zoned to.

    Speaking on the two potential Speakership candidates, a political analyst Mr. Godfrey Ikeagwu said “the two candidates are most qualified for the position.

    “Chikwendu is a lawyer and by training, Chinedum Orji is a grassroots politician that is loved by the people around him. He is from Abia Central and is the current Speaker of the House. He has got legislative experience and as a lawyer, he should know more about legislation and legal implications over some laws and policies of government as it has to do with the constitutionality of their actions and inactions.

    “And as it has been the custom of politics in Nigeria and PDP’s way of life, you cannot rule out the return-return syndrome.

    “For Chinedum Orji, I learned that he is one legislature that has touched the lives of people around him, especially the youth population. I have read through the internet, what he has been able to do as a state legislature. To me, he has been able to do what some federal lawmakers haven’t been able to do. I was thinking that he should have contested for the National Assembly seat because we need vibrant and youth-friendly lawmakers like him to be there.

    “But the problem is that the Ngwa bloc is thinking that he might sponsor the impeachment of Ikpeazu if he becomes Speaker. Don’t forget that it was the fear that made people protest in 2015 when rumors had it that he was going to run for the Speakership as at then.

    “Unconfirmed reports, however, have it that though the current State House Assembly Speaker is from the Ukwa Ngwa bloc which should naturally have the blessings of the governor,  Ikpeazu is reported to have endorsed the Speakership of Ikuku as a way of paying him back for seeing to his choice and emergence as the governorship candidate of the PDP in 2015 against the choice of his father, Senator Theodore Ahamefule Orji and some PDP stakeholders in the state that have other candidates such as Dr. Alex Otti, Uche Sampson Ogah, Senator Nkechi Nwaogu, Barr. Friday N. Nwosu, among others, including Ikpeazu’s brother-in-law and former Deputy Governor of the State, Chief Eric Acho Nwakanma.

    Commenting on the ongoing leadership tussle, former Senator representing Abia Central at the National Assembly, Chris Adighije, who is an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain in the state, said it would be proper for the Speakership position of Abia State House of Assembly, which has been zoned to Abia Central, to be micro zoned to Ikwuano/Umuahia for equity’s sake.

    “Since the governor is from Abia South and an Ngwa man, the Deputy Governor from Abia North, it will be proper for the Ikwuano/Umuahia to produce the Speaker for the sake of balance. Isiala Ngwa North and South are our Ngwa brothers and the governor is an ngwa man.”

    When asked if he has a favored candidate from Ikwuano/Umuahia, he has this to say; “I don’t have a favored candidate, the Ikwuano/Umuahia members elect should be able to choose amongst themselves who they believe has the capacity to do the work effectively,” he said.

    But in what seems to be a morale boost to the speakership quest of Jnr. Orji, ex- Senate President and Secretary, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Adolphus Wabara, has not only endorsed the Speakership position ambition of the son of the former governor of the state and senator representing Abia Central, Chief Theodore Orji, Chief Chinedum Orji, he has equally urged Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu not to interfere in the affairs of the House of Assembly that will lead to the election of Speaker of Abia State House of Assembly come June.

    Addressing select newsmen in Aba on Sunday, Senator Wabara said as the Secretary of BoT of PDP, whose sole responsibility is advisory, the governor should not interfere in the affairs of the State House of Assembly, particularly as it relates to choosing who should be the Speaker.

    He said that in PDP, zoning, which breeds equity is key, adding that it is as a result of zoning that made Ngwa man to become governor in 2015 for the first time in the history of the state.

    While admonishing those who are interested in the Speakership position to be mindful of their utterances, the former Senate President said that fairness and equity demands that the speakership position should be zoned to Umuahia axis of Abia Central and the Deputy Speakership position to Ukwa ethnic nationality.

    “What I am saying is that the governor is from Abia South; Ukwa/Ngwa extraction, the deputy governor, Ude Okochukwu, is from Abia North, then why should the Speakership coming to Abia Central still remain with an Ngwa person? It is not fair.

    Prof Gregory Ibe speaking to news men recently in Amaokwe Uturu his hometown enjoined incoming members of the Assembly to embrace the candidature of Engr. Orji and subsequently work towards his emergence as Speaker.

    But sources said that though Engr. Orji may have been getting the endorsements from people in the state, they warned that the incumbent Speaker in the state would not be a pushover.

    LAGOS: PARTY LEADERSHIP TO DECIDE WHO BECOMES SPEAKER

    By Oziegbe Okoeki, Lagos

    As the countdown to the end of the 8th Assembly of Lagos State begins and the inauguration of the 9th Assembly is around the corner what is uppermost in the mind of political pundits is who will emerge the Speaker of the 9th Assembly?

    Will it remain the incumbent Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, who won a return ticket for a record fifth term and oldest member in the Assembly or will there be change of leadership?

    Although for now there seems to be a lot of quietness in the Assembly as to the issue of speakership, it however does not translate to an endorsement of the current Speaker to continue in the 9th Assembly.

    Though on the surface no lawmaker has come out openly to signify interest in contesting for the position, The Nation gathers that this is primarily because, from past experience, the issue of who emerges as Speaker in Lagos Assembly is always decided by godfathers and the party leadership.

    And since none of the lawmakers for now is sure of what the position of the leaders is on the issue, everybody is holding back because if the leadership decides that the incumbent should continue they would not want to be caught on the wrong side because the consequences from the 2015 experiences of those who eventually lost out in the race may be grave.

    However, this is not to say that in a House where you have 4th, 3rd and 2nd termers, they are not eyeing the seat, but for reasons stated above they are not ready to come out openly.

    From our investigations, few who show interest in the seat are actually working underground meeting with stakeholders, which include party leaders, traditional rulers and other influential people in the state to swing the pendulum to their side.

    Like one of such interested lawmaker confided in our correspondent on condition of anonymity, “I will not become the Speaker through the pages of newspaper or on the social media; I know those who can make it happen and I am reaching out to them.”

    This is obviously the attitude and belief of those interested in the race. They are working underground and who knows, there may be surprises.

    But will it be a walkover for the incumbent? It is very unlikely because there seem to be so much unease among the lawmakers, especially the ranking members, because the newcomers are not too familiar with the terrain yet.

    Although there is so much grumbling among many of the ranking members, nobody really wants to speak out on what the problem really is except for some who said it borders on style of leadership and members’ welfare.

    Even a principal figure who is also a major power broker in the House and who was instrumental and played a major role in the emergence of Obasa in 2015, from sources within the Assembly, is also aggrieved. He is actually seen as a godfather in the Assembly.

    Though he is no longer coming back to the Assembly since he has secured a ticket to go higher, he however remains relevant and powerful in the Assembly politics and many believe the party leadership will listen to him when the issue of speakership comes up.

    He is even said to have called a meeting of some prominent ranking members in the Assembly to complain bitterly about his protégé, especially on issues concerning members’ welfare and other sundry matters.

    Even members of the speaker’s kitchen cabinet are said to be aggrieved also and have indeed met, and though they are not averse to his returning as Speaker, they have however detailed out conditions he must abide to and changes in style he must adhere to so as to retain their support. It is however not certain how far they have gone in their quest.

    One of the conditions given is that the Speaker must promise to make lawmakers and staffs’ welfare a priority to gain their support.

    But sources at the Assembly say the Speaker sees this as betrayal and this may have estranged both parties.

    This may account for why the Speaker has opted for another lawmaker who observers in the Assembly will tell you they have never been best of friend’s probably because he contested for the position against Obasa in 2015; as his campaign manager for the coveted seat.  He is not coming back and also lost his bid to go to House of Representatives.

    Definitely, the Speaker has more trust in him, because he is not coming back, than members of his kitchen cabinet who are coming back.

    And the major plank of his campaign manager to the new comer lawmakers as disclosed by one of them when asked who he will vote for is “vote for Obasa, if you don’t vote for him and he wins, he will victimize you because he is very vindictive. I have suffered it in the last four years. I was victimized in the last four years because I did not support him in 2015”.

    That Obasa may have prepared the ground for a smooth return as Speaker of the 9th Assembly is not in doubt. He is said to have been instrumental to the return of many of the returning members, especially those coming for second term and particularly the Peoples Democratic Party defectors, by ensuring that even those who lost out in the party primaries were eventually given the ticket by the party to come back; he is sure of their loyalty.

    He is also sure of the loyalty of some of the ranking members, particularly those who he made chairmen of juicy committees as they would want him back so as to continue to enjoy chairmanship of their juicy committees or at least switch to other juicy committees.

    If the contest is to be decided on the floor of the House, he is almost 100 per cent sure of the votes of these members and some of the new comers whom he has already reached out to.

    But as mentioned earlier, the decision of who becomes the Speaker is neither decided on the floor of the House or by the lawmakers but by the godfathers and leadership of the party. This much the Speaker alluded to in 2015 during the tussle for the speakership position.

    And their yardstick for deciding who eventually emerges as Speaker may be very different from other calculations as seen in the case of out-going governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, who despite his spectacular performance, was denied a second term ticket by the party leadership.

    In the Lagos Assembly who becomes speaker remains a matter of conjecture for now; will it remain Obasa or will another Speaker emerge? Will there be surprises? These questions will only be answered in June maybe days or hours before the inauguration of the 9th Assembly.

    For now, all fingers are crossed as the underground work, campaign and intrigues continue.

    NIGER: HOW NEW MEMBERS’ BAN AFFECTS RACE

    From Justina Asishana – Minna

    The newly elected members of the Niger State House of Assembly are prevented from contesting due to last minute amendment of the standing order of the House which states that fresh and new members will not be qualified to vie for the leadership of the Assembly.

    The Nation gathered that the state government may have already selected a candidate from among the new entrants but with the change in the standing order, they had to shift their focus.

    We reliably gathered that three returning members, including the incumbent Speaker, would be contesting for the number three position in the state.

    These contenders include the current Speaker, Honorable Ahmed Marafa Guni, who is representing Chachanga Constituency, the member representing Bosso Constituency, Honorable Malik Madaki Bosso and the Chairman of the Committee on Information who represents Suleja Constituency, Honorable Shua’ibu Liman Iya.

    The government is leaning favorably in support of the member representing Suleja Constituency, Honorable Shua’ibu Liman Iya who entered into the Assembly under the platform of the PDP but defected during his second year as a member in the House.

    Reasons for the support of Iya is not far-fetched as the government is looking at who will bend to its will, approve their whims and be at their beck and call.

    The current Speaker, Ahmed Marafa Guni, may likely have the support of his fellow colleagues but not the government; this is because the government is not able to bend him to do their will during his four year tenure.

    What possibly put off the government about Marafa may not be far from his inability to get the Assembly to approve the Sukuk Bond which the government wanted at all cost; this ended up in causing a frosty relationship between the government and the legislators.

    Another reason the government is not favorably disposed to him may be his insistence that the governor signs and acts on the bills passed by the House and his usual tendency to call the government to order.

    However, on his part, Marafa says he is not worried about the outcome of the Speakership position as according to him, “position comes from God. I will be comfortable with every outcome, be it for me or against me.”

    Honorable Madaki Malik Bosso’s emergence as one of the contenders is not a surprise because he has been the most vocal member in the Assembly in the past four years, however he is not favored by the government because of his outspokenness and his ability to speak against government policies each time it is not favorable to the people.

    Out of these three major candidates, it seems the current Speaker and Madaki Bosso will be the two most favoured in the battle to get the plum seat. The governor’s will and say over the speakership position has always not been met and this time will be no different.

    CROSS RIVER: GOVERNOR HOLDS THE ACE

    From Nicholas Kalu, Calabar

    In Cross River State, the present Speaker of the House of Assembly, John Gaul Lebo, representing Abi State Constituency in the Central District of the state, would not be coming back, given that he lost out in his bid to move up to the House of Representatives in the last election.

    With some kind of unwritten consensus that the speakership be retained in the central district of the state, the position may have been narrowed down to the six local government areas that constitute the district.

    The local governments are Abi, Yakurr, Obubra, Etung, Boki and Ikom. However, it seems due to various factors that would be highlighted here, it still would seem there is a further narrowing down.

    Presently, the 25 member House is constituted of all members of the Peoples Democratic Party and a breakdown of the central district as it would be in the next Assembly would be as follows Abi (Dave Etta), Boki 1 (Itam Abang), Boki 2 (Hilary Bisong), Obubua 1 (Okpeche Friday)

    Obubra 2 (Samson Francis), Etung (Chris Mbu-Ogar), Ikom 1 (Fred Osim), Ikom 2 (Elvert Ekom), Yakurr 1 (Ofem Nelson) and Yakurr 2 (Eteng Williams).

    However favourites among these seem to be the representatives of Boki, who in considering elective positions from the area seem to be lacking.

    There seems to be the feeling that one of these two should present the Speaker for some form of equity within the district.

    For instance Ikom has Chris Agibe who is in the federal House of Representatives member representing Ikom/Boki. Obubra has Mike Etaba representing Obubra/Etung. Abi has Alex Egbona representing Abi/Yakurr. Etung has Sandy Onor as a Senator of the district. Also Yakurr had produced a Speaker before in the person of Bassey Ewa. Abi and Yakurr share the same federal constituency and Abi had just produced the immediate past Speaker in the person of John Gaul. There is also the feeling that Abi has also produced a governor in the person of Liyel Imoke and  Yakurr just finished from the House of Reps in the person of Bassey Ewa, who is to hand over to Alex Ebgona from Abi.

    For some, if fairness and equity are to be achieved, then it should be Boki that should get the speakership, even as those from the area say they gave the governor the highest number of votes in the state in the last general elections.

    Bisong, heading for a second term in office, had achieved some popularity in the last Assembly. He is one of those whose name comes up whenever the matter is discussed, but it should be noted that the governor’s interest would also play a role in who would eventually emerge as the Speaker as it seems the legislature in the state has always been under the influence of the executive.

    The governor is expected to look for someone that it would be able to work smoothly with given that most of his projects would need legislative backing. It is in this regard many feel that Bisong may not be favoured as he is believed to be an independent minded person.

    But sources close to Bisong say he is a team player, who is not coming to challenge the system because he also has a political future and is committed to move the state forward.

    Another strong contender would be Williams from Yakurr, a close associate of Lebo. But there is the feeling that if the governor really wants smooth working relations with the House this might not be the best option because his would be like an extension of Lebo’s speakership, who many members of the House felt did not protect their interests well enough. In fact, it is argued that it is such loss of popularity that made Lebo to lose his bid for the Abi/Yakurr federal seat, which is the only constituency the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) won in all the elections across the state.

    Fred Osim, representing Ikom I, is another name that features for this position although the permutations highlighted earlier may not favour his area.

    As pointed out earlier, in the midst of all these schemings, the person that would make the final decision would be the governor himself. The politics of the state seems to be tied around the apron strings of the governor and whoever the governor decides would emerge. Against this backdrop and given that of course in politics anything is possible, hence pushing it further one may consider the present Deputy Speaker of the House who represents Calabar South 2 from the Southern district.

    This is due to the feeling that Bassey, who would be returning for a third term, is considered to be level headed and diplomatic and that he would be able to build the kind of cohesion the governor would like to pursue his agenda.

    OGUN: UNCERTAINTY TRAILS SEARCH FOR NEW SPEAKER

    From Ernest Nwokolo, Abeokuta

    The current state legislative Assembly in Ogun State, presided over by Hon. Suraj Adekunbi, will wind down in June, giving way to another leadership.

    The seat of the Speaker, in the political configuration of the state, had been zoned to Ogun Central since Ogun East has the Governor while the Ogun West has the Deputy Governor.

    The race for the position had since  began, albeit, subtly even before the State House of Assembly election was held last March 9 in Ogun State.

    The duo of Kunle Oluomo from Ifo 1 State Constituency and Elemide Daisy Victor, an Architect, from Odeda State Constituency are the contenders to the office.

    Honourable Kunle Oluomo is being said to be interested in the seat. He is presently the Deputy Speaker and has eight years of legislative experience on his side, a grassroots politician, and mobiliser and often referred to as the grand master of Ifo politics by a section of his supporters.

    Oluomo had a stint in the media. In the last eight years, he has been running people – ariented and welfarist representation for his Ifo 1 State Constituency, providing free school shuttle buses that convey pupils and students to and fro schools in Ifo town and surrounding villages.

    He is making his third appearance at the Ogun Assembly where, of the 26 – member legislators, about a dozen of them are making their first appearances.

    He was an Amosun loyalist to the core, dating back to the time of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). He was first elected a lawmaker on the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), 2011, when he followed Amosun to the party, got re-elected on the ticket of APC 2015 and now in 2019 on the strength of the same party.

    He however fell out with Amosun when his former boss denied him ticket and so he had to align with Dapo Abiodun and Osoba camp to get the ticket to run.

    Oluomo is believed to be banking on the likely support of colleagues who would be returning to the House to clinch the Speakership position when the time comes.

    The odds against him is his connection with Amosun, and even though the relationship between the duo had diverged, political expediency and need for healthy and  stable forthcoming Ogun Assembly may make the choice of Oluomo a difficult path to thread by the decision makers in APC.

    For no fault of his, it is not unexpected for people to assume that he could easily look back to his else while political mentor for tutoring when the chips are down to the hurt of executive – legislative harmony. How he will pull this albatross off his shoulder remained a matter to be seen.

    Oluomo has been paying heavy price on account of what some people ascribed to his severed relationship with the governor while others said his political travails were the manifestation of the people’s discontents with his style of politics.

    He has been attacked on a number of occasions by political foes; his supporters too had equally been spared during such attacks, with some of them gravely injured.

    Recently, he lost what could be regarded as a fleet of busses to hoodlums, who set them ablaze and also torched his constituency office in Ifo.

    Elemide is an Osoba loyalist. An intelligent and calm politician, he was in the House from 2011 to 2015; followed Osoba to the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in 2015 when Amosun elbowed them out of APC and also joined the camp to successfully fight their way back to the party.

    Elemide appeared to have many things working on his side towards emerging the next Speaker of the Ogun Assembly. He earns the trust of the party chieftains, his people and to a significant extent, that of the party as whole.

    Some of the first time lawmakers too are likely to give him their support on the strength of the series of alliances that brought about the victory of APC in the governorship poll.

    And given the experience of the party leaders and chieftains in the hand of Governor Ibikunle Amosun in the last eight years, particularly in the build-up to the last general elections, it is almost certain that nobody remotely or directly connected to Amosun would be supported to become Speaker.

    This is where Oluomo is most disadvantaged and Elemide seem better favored. And if the rule of ‘Baba so pe’ takes precedence, as it is expected to be done underground, Elemide is likely going to be the next Speaker.

  • Refuse: Lagos Assembly orders PSP operators back to work

    …Disowns Visionscape

     

    Lagos State House of Assembly has ordered the 20 Local Governments and 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state to call on the Private Sector Partnership (PSP) operators in their areas to go back to refuse packing job with immediate effect.

    Speaker of the House, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa gave this directive Thursday at plenary directing the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni to invite the Commissioner for the Environment, Hon. Babatunde Durosinmi-Etti to appear before the House on the matter next week.

    Read Also:Tanker Fire: Lagos Assembly to review traffic law

    The directive followed matter of urgent public importance raised by Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu (Eti-Osa 1) who complained of heaps of refuse scattered all over the state.

    Yishawu had said that there were several heaps of refuse on Lagos roads, adding that they were not like before “because some PSP are now working and the state government has bought some trucks.”

    He said: “Some refuse are taken to Epe and Ikorodu but it is a bit far now as 300 instead of 800 trucks now dispose refuse.

    “We used to dump the refuse in Olusosun, but the place was gutted by fire. We can give the place to private companies.

    “The sanitary land fill in Epe is not being utilised and the transfer loading stations too are not working effectively and the turnaround time of packing the refuse is not being utilised.

    “It is not all the PSP operators that are working. May be we can recall the PSP Operators and reopen Olusosun and the land fill sites should be operated properly.”

    Obasa emphasised that the Lagos State Government does not know about Visionscape.

    He pointed out that there are three arms of government including legislative, executive and judiciary, and that the state government ought to have consulted the House on Visionscape before they started operation.

    “We insist that we don’t know anything about Visionscape because we were not consulted before they started work.

    “We once wrote the Commissioner for Finance, Hon. Akinyemi Ashade not to pay Visionscape again and he would return any money he paid to them after our instruction to the coffers of the state government. We will go to that, when the time comes, but we have to do the needful now.

    “We are calling on the 20 local governments and 37 LCDAs in the state to have meetings with the PSP operators to go back to work and they should start paying them and make the residents to start paying the operators. We have to avoid epidemics and be proactive,” he said.

    The Speaker also warned those stopping people from dumping refuse at the dumpsites to desist from doing so, adding that he saw a lot of refuse trucks in a bad state and that some of them have been abandoned.

    He insisted that the House ought to have approved the new refuse disposal policy of the state government before Visionscape started work.

    “We are inviting the Commissioner for the Environment to come and report to us within one week. The Clerk should write all the local councils in the state to do the needful and the Commissioner for the Environment should work on this and report to us in a week,” he said.

    The Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade from Ikorodu Constituency 1 revealed that heaps of refuse are worse in his area, and that for the state to have good sanitation,  a law on environmental sanitation was passed in Lagos State, but that it seemed it was not properly done after that.

    “The refuse on the road and on the streets are hazardous to the people. Flies from the refuse mix with the food people are eating.

    “We can invite the people in the Ministry of the Environment to know their challenges. This has become an eyesore in Lagos State. We should invite the people in charge,” he said.

    Also speaking, Hon. Bisi Yusuff from Alimosho Constituency 1 revealed that eight people died in Igando, where they dump refuse in his area.

    Yusuff stressed that Visionscape does not know the job, and that they did not even allow PSP operators to help the people.

    “There are big rats on the roads now and they could even make a vehicle to stumble.

    “We should look at it critically. They are not picking any refuse in the state. It is an important matter that should be handled urgently,” he said.

    All the lawmakers who contributed to the debate agreed with the observations and submissions of their colleagues.

  • Gani Adams, others to speak at Yoruba Koya Security Roundtable over Migrant Incursion into Lagos

    …to address world press conference over restructuring, Insecurity in Nigeria, infrastructure decadence in Yoruba land

    …to donate Hunting Gears to Informal Security Sector

     

    Prominent Yoruba leaders of thought will hold a security roundtable with several self determination groups and unions on how to checkmate the emerging threat being posed by migrants’ incursion from the Northern Part of Nigeria and outside the shores of country to the security and peace of Lagos State on Wednesday 15th August  at the Banquette Hall of Lagos Airport Hotel, Ikeja Lagos by 10am.

     

    The conference is being powered by a Pan Yoruba Socio-cultural group, Yoruba KOYA Movement, will be chaired by the Aare Onakakanfo of Yoruba land, Aare Gani Adams with the theme: Protecting Yoruba land: Migrant Explosion and Threat to Security and Peace of Lagos State.

     

    The leaders will also address a world press conference on national issues such as restructuring of Nigeria’s Political, Economic and Social Structures; Infrastructure Decadence in Yoruba Land; Unabated Killings across the nation, Herdsmen vs Farmers Clashes amongst others.

     

    According to a statement made available to news men yesterday in Lagos by the National Director of Organization and Publicity of the group, Mr. Maxwell Adeyemi Adeleye, Afenifere Leader and Elder Statesman, Pa. Ayo Adebanjo will lead other Yoruba leaders such as Second Republic Senator and Emeritus Professor of History, Banji Akintoye, Former Chief of Defence Staff, General Alani Akinriade (Rtd), Activist Pastor of Latter Rain Assembly Church and co-convener of Save Nigeria Group, Tunde Bakare to the event.

     

    Others expected to speak at the event are Ex-Nadeco chieftain, Dr. Amos Akingba, first Military Governor of Western Nigeria State, General Oluwole Rotimi (Rtd) and the Convener, Otunba ‘Deji Osibogun.

     

    The statement reads that the Governor of Lagos State, Akinwumi Ambode, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Edgar Imohimi, Lagos State Director of State Security Services (DSS), Lagos Staate Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Director, Lagos State Neighbourhood Watch, General Manager, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), and Controller, Nigeria Immigration Service, Lagos Command are all expected to grace the parley.

     

    The statement stated that self-determination groups and unions such as Vigilante Group of Nigeria (VGN), National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Oodua People’s Congress (OPC), Amalgamated Commercial Motorcycle Riders Association of Nigeria (ACOMORAN), Ohaneze Ndigbo, Arewa Consultative Forum, Community Development Association (CDA), Hunters, Farmers, Market men and Women and others are expected to participate at the roundtable.

     

    Hunting Gears such as Raincoats, Boots, Head Lamps, Hand Gloves, Torchlight, Whistles etc will be donated to members of VGN and Hunters at the occasion.

     

    The main aims of the parley, according to the statement, are to examine the motive(s) behind the alarming incursion of Migrants from the Northern part of Nigeria and outside the shores of the country into Lagos State daily and the effects on the security and peace of Lagos State; examine the causes of herdsmen and farmers crisis in Yoruba Land; and to discuss the management strategies by which the migrant incursion could be avoided so that Lagos State and by extension, Yoruba Lands are not encircled by external forces.

     

     

     

  • House appraises activities of Neighbourhood Corps

    The Lagos State House of Assembly has invited the management of the Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC) to brief it on its activities. The corps was established on March 27, last year after the law which was passed by the Lagos State House of Assembly was signed into law by Governor Akinwunmi Ambode. The bill which became law was sponsored by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa.

    The Corps, which Obasa said was a step towards state police, clocked one year recently and the lawmakers, at plenary on April 3 did an evaluation of the activities and operations of the agency.

    The debate was prompted by the Speaker.

    Obasa called on the Acting Chairman of the Security Committee, Hon. Tunde Braimoh to give an evaluation of the performance of LNSC one year after. He reiterated that the Neighbourhood Safety Corps is a step towards state police, adding that there was need for the state to get it right so that agitation for state police would rational.

    Opinion, however, differed sharply among lawmakers over the performance of LNSC. While some lawmakers said LNSC has performed well, majority disagreed, saying it has performed abysmally.

    Giving his appraisal, Braimoh said the agency is still battling with teething problems as it has been trailed with “so many petitions, protests and insinuations even by members of the Corps.

    He complained about issues bordering on non-regularisation of personnel of the agency and non-payment of salaries for upward of eleven months.

    “Some of the personnel are alleged to be parading fake certificates from higher institutions; inadequate protection for personnel and need for more equipment to serve better”.

    Braimoh, however, said the agency’s personnel have been able to establish some rapport with critical stakeholders in security across the state such as Community Development Associations (CDAs), Community Development Committees (CDCs) and also a working relationship with the police.

    He also said they have been instrumental to the arrest of some armed robbery gangs, tackling of the Badoo menace in Ikorodu where they arrested some members of the gang and also smashed a gang of notorious terrorists also at Ikorodu.

    Hon. Setonji David (Badagry 2), however, disagreed with Braimoh, saying the “Neighbourhood Corps has performed abysmally. Despite the efforts put in by the House in passing the bill into law, it has turned out to be working against our intentions.

    “Their mode of operation is very unprofessional, the personnel have no skills in security matters, qualified and known hands or professionals in security matters were disengaged. We need to look into the law and review it”, David said.

    Agreeing with David, Hon. Bisi Yusuf said there were shocking revelations about the agency during interactions with its official during budget defence.

    “We need to call the management to know what is happening within the agency. There were shocking revelations at the appropriation meeting with them. There is inefficiency in the system as a result of seeming incompetence on the part the management”, Yusuf said.

    Hon. Rotimi Olowo suggested the setting up of an ad-hoc committee to look into the totality of the agency’s operation.

    The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshilokun-Sanni also said: “There is no proper structure; training is not up to date, what is their training schedule? There is no administrative structure for optimal performance; the officers are visible but not effective and no insurance policy for the corps”. He, however, advised that they should be paid their salaries.

    The Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade said: “There is no doubt that the agency may have some shortcomings. Without proper remuneration, its members can compromise which will be dangerous as a security outfit.

    “However, the establishment of the Corps has created very good impact on security situations and has assisted in bursting crimes in the state, especially in Ikorodu axis. It has assisted in information gathering during Badoo menace. We should look at the hindrances and find solution to them”, Agunbiade advised.

    Rounding off the debate, Obasa said: “The Neighbourhood Corps is a step towards state police and we don’t want to fail. If we can’t manage it then we cannot make case for state police. We need to improve and perfect what they are doing. Other states have emulated us but we must give the agency the necessary support to ensure they perfect their act and succeed.”

    After the debate the House resolved to invite the management of the agency to brief it on its operations, activities and challenges.

    On April 12, the chairman of LNSC retired former police commissioner in Lagos State; Mr. Israel Ajao led other members of the management team to the House in response to the invitation.

    Making his presentation, Ajao debunked the information in the public domain that salaries of members of staff have not been paid, saying contrary to that information “salaries of members of staff have been paid up to date”.

    He said the agency has performed well within a short time in the areas of training, inauguration and operations, adding that they work with the police, complement their efforts and assist them with information either to prevent crimes or arrest criminals.

    “We have made several arrests of robbers, from whom we recover guns and ammunition even without carrying arms. We also arrested cultists, fraudsters and murderers,” he said.

    Ajao said there was no delay in salary payment, and that the batches 1 and 2 that began work on April 1, last year, have been paid till date.

    He said some people, who claimed to have undergone training but had not been paid were liars as, according to him, they had not been given employment letters or deployed to anywhere.

    “Anybody you see without the LNSC uniform is not working for the agency yet. I can’t send people out to go and tackle criminals without uniform.

    “The LNSC is like a company that’s oversubscribed. It has become so successful that almost everybody is interested in working for it.

    “You can’t just say you have done training for three days and you are now a neighbourhood corps. There is a procedure after training; you must be verified, there are conditions for eligibility after three days training.

     

     

     

     

     

    “I don’t know why some people are peddling rumours instead of coming to find out the truth. How will you be working without uniform? You have not been cleared, given a letter of appointment,” he said.

    Responding to questions from lawmakers, Ajao, who commended the House for its interests in community safety, said Governor Ambode gave the agency permission to appoint 5,700 people at inception and that the agency was given days to train the applicants for batches 1 and 2 in 2017 and post the officers to all the 57 council areas.

    He said the corps bridges the gap areas where police did not cover, adding that 171 patrol vehicles and 4000 bicycles were given to LNSC to ensure grassroots policing.

    Ajao, a former Commissioner of Police in Lagos and former Deputy Inspector-General of Police, said the agency had four cardinal goals which were representation, participation, accountability and eye visibility policing, saying all the employed have been trained on these four key goals as they go to their beats.

    The chairman stressed that the first challenge of the corps when it started operation was dismantling Badoo cult in Ikorodu whose activities were at its height then.

    According to him, he got orders from the Governor to meet with traditional rulers, religious leaders and artisans and others such as police on the way forward until the issue was resolved.

    “We worked day and night to address grassroots insecurity; we are not resting on our oars. We have met and are still meeting with all community stakeholders such as Community Development Areas (CDAs) and Community Development Committees (CDCs), who have been calling us to give us intelligent information.

    “We have been clamping down on people in possession of items that aggravate crimes in the society, rather than crimes increase in Lagos, it is reducing with a lot of advocacies being carried out,” he said.

    Speaking on the challenges and problems confronting the corps, Ajao said lives of its operatives had been endangered as many had been wounded and injured by criminals in the course of their operations simply because they don’t carry arms.

    “We have so many challenges, which are not logistics, but criminals who take advantage of absence of arms to attack our men and injuring them while one has been killed.

    “If we don’t do something about this, it will cause discouragement. However, we have started re-orientation of our men so that they will not be discouraged as police who carry arms also suffer injuries,” he said.

  • ‘Desist from undisciplined acts’

    ‘Desist from undisciplined acts’

    The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, at the weekend urged the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) personnel to continue to improve on service delivery and abstain from all forms of indiscipline that can tarnish the image of the Corps.

    He commended the Corps for their efforts in making our roads safer.

    He advised them to continue to improve on research, workshop, sensitisation and relevant safety campaigns that would enable the Corps to fulfil its mandate of reduction of road crashes.

    Hon Obasa spoke while he was decorated as a member of Special Marshals of the Corps in Lagos.

    He was decorated alongside with the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr Tiamiyu Adesina and a senior Pastor of Redeemed Christian Church of God, Pastor Prof. Odesola.

    The decoration was part of the activities to mark the 2017 Sectoral Workshop organised for the Special Marshals of Lagos State Sector Command. With the theme “Road Safety is not a Privilege but a Right”

    He said the Lagos State Government will continue to support both security and safety agencies for Lagos to become a safe place for all.

    Obasa said the government will mandate the local government chiefs to join the course of proclaiming road safety within their localities.

    The National Coordinator, Special Marshals, Dr Sini Kwabe, Lagos and Ogun states Coordinator, Alhaji Toyin Kadiku and the host, Lagos State Coordinator Mr Olusola Olojede, said the workshop is an annual event for Special Marshals of the FRSC to become abreast of the performances and chart a new strategy that would enable the Corps achieve its mandate of making the highways safer.

    The Lagos and Ogun Zonal Commander,  ACM Shehu Alkali Zaki, the Corps’ Head of Policy, Research and Statistics Department, ACM  Kayode Olagunju and Lagos Sector Commander Hyginus Omeje commended the Special Marshals for their selfless service. They said the retreat was part of the FRSC’s drive to enable it fulfil its statutory mandate.

    They said Special Marshals are volunteer arm of the Corps, created by section 10 (1) of the FRSC Establishment Act 2007 and empowered to arrest and prosecute erring motorists that violate road traffic rules and regulations as entrenched in the Act and other Road Traffic Laws.

    The FRSC commanders appealed to the Special Marshals to be more dedicated and committed to selfless service without expecting reward.

    Commander Omeje appealed to the personnel to ensure the accomplishment of more intensive patrol operations and traffic control, especially during this critical period of the year.

  • Assembly slashes Ambode’s re-ordering request

    Assembly slashes Ambode’s re-ordering request

    The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday at plenary passed the budget re-ordering request of the State Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to the tune of N25.028bn.
    Ambode had requested the lawmakers to re-order the 2017 budget to the tune of N42..028bn but after taking the report of the Ad-Hoc committee in budget headed by the acting Chairman, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, members slashed the request by N17bn due to insufficient information.
    The key components of budget 2017 was recurrent expenditure N300.535billion while N512.464billion be dedicated to capital expenditure representing a Capital/Recurrent ratio of 63 percent to 37 percent.
    The request to re-order the Paris Club refund loan of N17bn to address the challenge of transportation in the State was stepped down as members were not satisfied with the information provided by the MDAs.
    Olowo had explained earlier that there was the need to pass the review of the budget as requested by the Governor in order to address the challenges of transportation, flooding and insecurity.
    While leading the debate, Hon. Olufunmilayo Tejuoso stated that “there are some grey areas that need to be addressed before passing the budget. There were not enough clarifications. As Lagos State House of Assembly, we should be careful; we are concerned about transportation, however, if they could not give enough information on the issue, it should be thoroughly looked into before passing it.”
    Also, Hon. Saka Fafunmi pointed out that the request to access funds meant for Lagos State University (LASU) for accreditation in 2016 and 2017 was not clear enough.
    He argued that since 2016 budget estimate had lapsed, how would the fund be accessed to take care of the previous accreditation.
    While supporting his colleagues, Hon. Olanrewaju Ogunyemi stated that since the MDAs had promised to furnish the House with full details of information requested, “I think the 17 billion Naira can be held back. The 2017 budget is gradually rounding up, it can be incorporated into the 2018 budget
    Hon Bisi Yusuff said, “Since detail information was not provided, there is need to get the fundamentals correctly. It is not Mr. Governor but those who are saddled with responsibilities.”
    The Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa said the Governor should be commended for having the foresight to utilize the Paris fund judiciously.
    “I think we should commend the Governor and his team for utilizing the Paris Fund for ease of Lagosians. We are all aware of what is happening in some States where the money is used to pay salaries and in some other States they could not account for it.
    “We are willing collaborators with the Governor to do what will be of good to Lagosians. Since there is need for clarification, we will drop that leg on the recommendations,” Obasa said.
  • Lagos speaker urges youths to address unemployment through innovation

    Lagos speaker urges youths to address unemployment through innovation

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, has urged youths to address the pangs of poverty and unemployment in the country through innovations and new ideas.

    Obasa gave the advice when he received an award of Exemplary Leadership from the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) in his office at the Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja.

    He explained that with what the students demonstrated, hope was not lost, saying that Nigerian youths are capable of taking over from the old generation by displaying good leadership qualities.

    The speaker said, “I can say boldly, with what I am seeing, that our youths are ready to take over. We all want good leaders for Nigeria, we don’t want a country where only the rich will have their way and others do not.

    We want people with ideas, you must be innovative, you must have administrative ideas, you have to look inwards and bring out what others would love to embrace, with government’s support, we can eradicate unemployment and poverty,” the speaker said.

    He, however, urged the students to desist from tendencies that were encouraging factionalisation in the students union, saying that was the only way to build institutions.

    Obasa appreciated the association for the award, urging the students to continue to demonstrate sound leadership character at all times.

    The leader of the delegation, Luqman Salahudeen, stated that NAPS decided to honour Lagos Speaker because of his style of leadership.

    Salahudeen, who is the first Nigerian student to head the West African Polytechnic Union, explained that the Speaker has been piloting the affairs of Lagos Assembly without rancour or acrimony.

  • Another PDP lawmaker defects to APC in Lagos Assembly

    Another PDP lawmaker defects to APC in Lagos Assembly

    One out of the remaining two Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member in the Lagos State House, Hon. Victor Akande representing Ojo 1 constituency has defected to the All Progressives Congress, APC.

    Akande informed the House of his defection at plenary yesterday through a letter he addressed to the Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa and read by the Clerk of the Assembly, Mr. Azeez Sanni.

    In the letter, Akande said he was defecting because of the factionalisation of PDP not just to two but four factions especially in Lagos State.

    “My defection is to further continue support of adding legislative excellence to Governor Akinwunmi Ambode and the political leadership of the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly who has impacted on legislative standard in the state.

    “PDP has fallen apart and the centre can no longer hold so I have chosen to follow the stable APC. I thank PDP for giving me the political platform to showcase myself. I also thank my constituents and traditional rulers in my constituency for their support. I will continue to give them better representation and for me this is an home coming”, Akande said.

    Acknowledging the letter after he was given the chànce to speak, Akande who described himself as the last PDP man standing in the Lagos Assembly because “Markafi has since told his supporters to move over to the Labour party”, said he moved to APC with the blessings of his people from Ojo 1 constituency, royal fathers and all indigenes and non-indigenes of the constiruency.

    “I consulted widely before arriving at the decision to dump PDP for APC. I hereby shed the garb of PDP and I want to now be clothed with the APC garb”, Akande said.

    Congratulating Akande for the bold decision, his counterpart from Ojo 2 constituency, Hon. Lanre Ogunyemi said, “Akande has made our day in Ojo with this defection, because actually there is nothing more for him to do in the PDP than to move to the moving train of the APC.”

    Also congratulating Akande, speaker Obasa congratulated his colleagues for their good nature which made all the defections possible. He also thanked Akande for coming on board the APC, “we know you are a man of integrity and we are sure that image will reflect in our party”, Obasa said.

  • Lagos speaker hails Buhari, Osinbajo style of leadership

    Lagos speaker hails Buhari, Osinbajo style of leadership

    Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has urged leaders around the world, politicians especially, to emulate the exemplary leadership style of President Muhammdu Buhari and Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo.

    Commenting on the return of President Buhari from medical vacation in UK at the weekend in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Political and Legislative Matters, Hon. Mufutau Egberongbe, Obasa commended President Buhari for handing over the baton to Prof. Osinbajo when he was leaving for London for his vacation.

    According to him, the President did the expected and necessary thing by handing over to Osinbajo, “and since the president left for vacation, activities in the country were not put on hold, in just one week, Osinbajo visited Rivers state two times despite being an opposition state as well as some other Niger Delta states.

    “The Acting President didn’t just visit Rivers state, while there he flagged-off the reconstruction of doctors’ quarters in Port Harcourt and also inspected the ongoing construction of the Rivers state Ecumenical Centre.

    “And just last week, he paid an unscheduled visit to the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, where he expressed dissatisfaction with the state of some of the facilities within the airport, and noted that there was need to urgently make the facilities function at optimal level.

    “Few days after this visit to the airport, the Federal Government sacked all the nine directors of the nine directorates in the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA). This shows that we have a Vice President who is not docile; in other climes, the Vice President would have to wait for the President to return before taking action,” Obasa said in the statement.

    “There were so many other pressing issues Osinbajo was able to take care of during the period without any controversy”.

    The Speaker further explained that the attributes displayed so far by Osinbajo gave President Buhari the confidence to attend to his health fully, adding that he (Osinbajo) has shown that he is capable and can deliver in the absence of his principal.

    Obasa maintained that Osinbajo has served as a Commissioner for Justice under the tutelage of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his contributions to the state judiciary and legal system cannot be over-emphasized.

    “He has been in the thick of the action since Buhari left the shores of the country to proceed on vacation and a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom. Leaders must emulate this leadership style of Buhari and Osinbajo,” Obasa added.