Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Chairman of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos State and an APC leader, has said that members of the Lagos State House of Assembly lack the sole power to install or remove the leadership of the assembly.
Olusi, who said this while speaking with newsmen on Saturday, emphasized that the power to remove or install a speaker does not rest solely with the lawmakers.
“Members of the GAC are not members of the Lagos State House of Assembly to allegedly be behind the removal of Obasa. It can’t be true.
“We read it also that morning. The lawmakers carried it out without consulting the party and those of us in the GAC. That is our position.
“We invited all of them and insisted that all of them are products of the party. They lodged their complaints and we listened to them.
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“I blamed them for one thing and that is for not lodging the complaints earlier before the party. It is for the party to decide, they (lawmakers) have no absolute power to remove and install their leaders.
“Nobody can become a member of the House of Assembly unless sponsored by a political party and the sponsors are the inspectors”, Olusi said.
Ripples Nigeria reports that both Obasa and Meranda now claim the Speakership, further deepening the impasse.
Olusi acknowledged that the internal discord, particularly among Obasa and his colleagues, was the catalyst for his removal. He explained, “The problem is the speaker (Obasa) and his colleagues which had led to his removal. It is a disputer among them.
“Currently, there is a high powered committee of the party led by Chief Bisi Akande and members, including Aremo Olusegun Osoba, and former APC National Vice Chairman, South-west, Chief Pius Akinyelure and others,
“They are working and making efforts to resolve the matter. I know they are in consultation with the House of Assembly, Obasa and the other Speaker, Mrs Mojisola Lasbat Meranda.
“Those of us in the GAC and the Chairman of the Party, Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi are doing all within our power to assist the committee,” he added.
Efforts by the high-powered committee are underway in a bid to settle the leadership dispute and restore order within the Assembly, as both party and GAC work together to address the crisis.
Source: Ripples