Muraina Taiwo, a prominent member of the Lagos State Governance Advisory Council (GAC), has expressed deep concern over the escalating crisis within the Lagos State House of Assembly. According to Taiwo, the situation has become so intense that it is now beyond the council’s ability to resolve without external intervention, particularly from President Bola Tinubu, to prevent further deterioration.
The tension reached a peak earlier on Monday when operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) and the Nigeria Police stormed the Lagos State House of Assembly complex, located in Alausa, Ikeja. The security forces took forceful action, sealing off the offices of the Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, her deputy, and the clerk, significantly increasing the sense of unease among both lawmakers and staff working in the Assembly.
Reports indicated that the security personnel arrived in the early hours of the morning, carrying out thorough checks and restricting access to the affected offices, adding to the growing sense of instability in the Assembly. This latest development is part of the ongoing crisis that began with the controversial impeachment of the former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, and has since fueled ongoing controversy and division within the state legislature. Obasa, who has taken legal action to challenge his removal, has refused to recognize Meranda’s leadership, which has further entrenched the rift within the Assembly, making it difficult to find common ground for resolution.
In an interview with Punch, Taiwo weighed in on the current situation, describing the crisis as unclear. He stated, “The situation is not yet clear. The DSS said the acting Clerk invited them to guard the house against invasion, while the members are saying they were there to prevent them from entering.” This conflicting narrative, according to Taiwo, has contributed to the confusion surrounding the cause and nature of the crisis, leaving many questions unanswered about the real motives behind the security operation and the role of the various parties involved.
Taiwo also highlighted the limitations of the Governance Advisory Council (GAC) in handling the matter, acknowledging that the GAC’s efforts to resolve the crisis have not been successful. He further emphasized that the GAC’s power is no longer sufficient to contain the crisis, stating that if their directive had been effective, it would have already been carried out by the lawmakers. This implies that the situation has gone beyond the capacity of the council to mediate and is now in need of higher intervention to avoid further escalation.
Despite the deepening conflict, Taiwo made it clear that he did not believe Obasa was behind the crisis. He explained, “If he (Obasa) was behind the invasion, he would not have gone to court. The matter is already in court, and he would allow the court to do its work.” Taiwo’s statement suggests that Obasa's legal actions indicate a willingness to let the judicial system address the dispute, rather than taking extra-legal measures to resolve the matter through direct intervention or manipulation of the crisis.
Taiwo also addressed the question of whether Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had any involvement in the ongoing crisis. According to Taiwo, he does not believe that the governor is aware of or involved in the developments. He remarked, “In politics, the more you look, the less you see. What are they going to say the governor did wrong? I don’t see anything wrong in the actions of the governor.” Taiwo suggested that accusations against the governor were part of the political maneuvering surrounding the crisis, designed to distance the lawmakers from any suspicion that they might be receiving support or funding from the governor’s office.
Taiwo concluded by stressing that, based on the available evidence, there is no indication that Governor Sanwo-Olu is backing the lawmakers involved in the crisis. He said, “There’s no evidence to show he’s supporting them, all is politics.” His statement underscores the political complexity of the situation and suggests that the real issues at play may be more about power dynamics and political rivalry than actual wrongdoing on the part of the governor.
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