In his sensational, post-ouster news conference in Ikeja, Lagos, Mudashiru Obasa, the former Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, hinted at that popular concept of a General without troops.
Yet, with his needless bluster, which he pressed to insist he remained Speaker, he lived exactly that arch-delusion. How tragic! Couldn’t he have bowed out with quiet dignity?
Instead, he flexed muscles as some juggernaut, set to roll over rebellious urchins, now that the real McCoy was back in town. But the sharp House riposte was clear — Obasa was absolutely over as Speaker; and that was that!
New Madam Speaker, Mojisola Meranda’s triumphal march into the Speaker’s office, next day, made that very clear. She not only entered in a serenade of honour, her peers swarmed her for a photo-op that screamed: Obasa out! Lessons!
Indeed, the former Speaker is a classic study in grand failure to monitor and master one’s environment. That could be fatal for a politician.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been the exact opposite. Perhaps more than anyone in the current Lagos order, he fast realized that the Governor of Lagos was morphing from some Saul, first king of Israel, that towered above everyone; into no more that a first-among-equals. So, he must treat everyone with respect, aside applying his rich faculty to his difficult job.
He saw Ambode, who grew too big for his boots, clinically cut to size, before he could even mutter “Akin”! Sanwo-Olu saw how party peers harried Ambode out of second term. So, he quietly resolved never to be that river that forgot its source and dried up.
BOS may be the acronym of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu. But so far, Mr. Governor has shunned being the boss. Instead, his executive temper oozes the servant-leader.
Again, Speaker Obasa was the jarring opposite. He confused the governor’s humility and simplicity as stupidity. But see where that has landed him — tossed out as some piece of garbage, by peers that hitherto deferred to him. Lessons!
Still, first it was Ambode. Now, it’s Obasa. Tomorrow, who?
That’s the challenge Lagos APC should grapple with. Shuffling out strong (wo)men to graft strong institutions is not necessary bad. Indeed, it’s the sane path to tread — the paradise of party supremacy. In that heaven, order is the first — and last — thing!
So, the Lagos APC should grab this opportunity to build a disciplined party, anchored on fairness, equity and equal opportunity. Still, even “fallen” comrades need not face political death. The party can encourage them to learn from their mistakes. But they too must meet that deal with contriteness and humility.
That was where Obasa got it wrong, with his garrulous press conference that gained nothing. But if a Saul once turned Paul, who says even the conceited ex-Speaker can’t change?
Indeed, the party must work out a fair and sophisticated conflict mechanism; and also impose discipline on erring members. But it must also strive to rehabilitate them, after they have served their punishment.
That is the path to a doughty party system. Only a sound party system can power sustainable democracy.
