Politics
Obasa: A Fresh Honour For Lagos Speaker
By Eromosele Ebhomele
The Oranmiyan Hall of the Lagos Airport Hotel was filled by colourful, beautifully dressed journalists in the cool evening of Friday, October 22.
It was the end of a weeklong celebration tagged Lagos Press Week organised by the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos branch, and meant to celebrate men of the pen profession.
Dr. Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa, the Speaker of the now most vibrant House of Assembly in the entire Nigeria, was one of those honoured, not just for his philanthropy, but for the fact that through him as Speaker, Lagos state has been shaped positively beyond the expectations of residents.
The President of the NUJ, Chris Isiguzo, did not mince words when he noted that the laws coming out from the Lagos State House of Assembly have done good to the development of the entire country.
Isiguzor was full of praises for the Speaker, the members of the House and Lagos. To him, if you are not in Lagos, you are missing.
The NUJ President is not alone on the beautiful achievements of the Lagos State House of Assembly, working in close proximity with the other arms of government to meet dreams and aspirations.
A top official of the union specifically mentioned the recent bill passed by the House stopping the public parade of suspects when they have not been convicted.
The House had argued that parading suspects gives the impression that they are guilty even before the court would finally make pronouncements.
It is sweet to realise that all eyes are on Lagos to always create the pathway of development through policies, laws, motions and resolutions with the residents in mind.
It is sweeter knowing that there is a Speaker who knows his onions, has a grasp of governance and how to achieve growth and development.
Through him, the State now has the Neighborhood Safety Corps, an enviable community security outfit whose operation has been studied by some states of the federation.
The House is currently considering a bill to create a training institute for security agents in the State, which would possibly benefit agencies in Nigeria and parts of Africa, especially at this time of mass condemnation of the activities of some security agents.
Poised to ensure the safety of lives and property, a constitution-stipulated responsibility of the government, the House, under Obasa, recently passed an anti-open grazing bill. This is aside the bill against kidnapping passed sometime ago by the lawmakers.
Isiguzo understands that being a resident of Lagos is beautiful. Obasa and his colleagues understand that making Lagos beautiful is not a tea party. They hardly sleep. Visit the Assembly even when the lawmakers are supposedly on recess. Chances are you will meet many of them working.
Earlier this year, Obasa was honoured and appointed first ever Grand Patron of the Lagos branch of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) which said it took the decision after years of studying the Speaker and his activities.
And to be further recognised and honoured by members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm shows that the Speaker is appreciated. The NUJ said at the event it does not just honour people. It does only when a beneficiary has proven to merit it.
The Rivers State House of Assembly, led by Speaker Martin Amaewhule, has initiated impeachment proceedings against Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Deputy Ngozi Odu, issuing them a seven-day notice to respond to allegations of gross misconduct.
The Assembly cited eight specific allegations of gross misconduct as the basis for the move.
This is the third time Fubara and Odu would be facing impeachment proceedings from the Assembly since coming to office in 2023.
Attempts to impeach them in 2023 and 2025, amid political feuds between the Governor and his predecessor and erstwhile political god-father, now Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had been halted by presidential intervention.
Here are the allegations below:
1. Reckless and unconstitutional expenditure of public funds
2. Unconstitutional misappropriation of public funds
3. Hindering the Rivers Assembly from performing its constitutional duties
4. Illegal appointments of persons without screening by the House of Assembly as provided by the Constitution
5. Seizure of salaries and funds meant for Assembly members
6. Seizure of salaries of the clerk of the Rivers House of Assembly, Emeka Amadi
7. Refusal to implement provisions of the Constitution on financial autonomy of the legislature and the judiciary
8. Withholding of funds meant for the running of the Rivers House of Assembly Service Commission and hindering its activities
Lilian Adebayo, the wife of the 2023 presidential candidate of the Social Democratic Party, has said that the party will unseat the ruling All Progressive Party at the 2027 election if Nigerians are true to themselves.
Mrs Adebayo made this assertion known on Wednesday during an interview with journalists after an event in Abuja.
According to her, the opposition party has overcome its crisis after the expulsion of its former chairman, Shehu Gabam and others.
She said Nigerians should vote the APC out in the 2027 general election due to the hardship the party has plunged citizens into.
“There is always a crisis in the party; the SPD has been able to handle its own. The problems in the party have been resolved.
“He has a great chance of winning the election if Nigerians are honest with themselves. If Nigerians think that the ones they consistently vote for would move the country forward, they live in denial,” she concerning the husband.
Recall that SDP recently expelled Gabam and other party executives.
The party’s state chairmen on Wednesday urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and the police to investigate Gabam over alleged misappropriation.
In a significant political move, Enugu State Governor Peter Mbah officially defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Tuesday, October 14, 2025.
Mbah announced his decision during a televised broadcast in Enugu after weeks of speculation.
He said, “Today, after a long reflection, we have made the decision to leave the Peoples Democratic Party and join the All Progressives Congress.”
Mbah explained that his decision to join the PDP was informed by the need to reshape Enugu and reorganise the politics of the state.
“Today, I stand before you to announce a break from the past and to share a decision that will shape the road ahead. This concerns our values, how we organize ourselves politically and how we secure the future of our project and our people.
“Leadership sometimes demands painful decisions in the service of higher principles and goals. And there comes a time, when everyone must make a bold choice to determine their destiny.”
Ahead of the governor’s defection, all members of his cabinet had on joined the ruling party.
Governor Mbah’s Senior Media Aide, Dan Nwomeh, confirmed the mass defection in a video posted on his social media handles on Monday. In the video, several government officials were seen openly declaring their allegiance to the APC, chanting praises for President Bola Tinubu and affirming their commitment to the new party.
“Enugu State Cabinet Members join the APC with full chest along with Governor PN Mbah,” Nwomeh stated.
The officials, including commissioners and top aides, could be heard in the video declaring, “We are now in APC; tomorrow is here; it is APC all the way; it is Jagaban all the way; from top to bottom.”
The collective defection marks a significant political shift in Enugu State, which has been a PDP stronghold since 1999.
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