Rhodes-Vivour: Attempt to intimidate Meranda to resign as Lagos speaker unacceptable

Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour says the attempt to intimidate Mojisola Meranda to resign as speaker of the Lagos state house of assembly is unacceptable.

Earlier on Monday, security operatives sealed off the speaker’s office as speculation about Meranda’s possible resignation grew.

Police and task force officers were stationed in vehicles around the house of the assembly complex, with some patrolling the premises to maintain order.

The assembly had requested the Department of State Services (DSS) to strengthen security around its premises ahead of February 18, following reports that Mudashiru Obasa planned to resume as speaker of the house.

In the letter to the DSS, Abubakar Ottun, the acting clerk of the house, warned that Obasa’s attempt to resume office could pose a security threat to the assembly and its members.

The lawmakers later passed a vote of confidence in the speaker, following rumors of her possible resignation.

Reacting to the development during an interview on Channels Television, Rhodes-Vivour condemned what he called the desecration of the state assembly and labelled it a “show of shame”.

The former LP governorship candidate asked President Bola Tinubu and the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC) in Lagos to caution Obasa.

“The APC has sort of normalised this idea of using intimidation and force to get their way, and that is what we say today,” he said.

“An attempt to intimidate the speaker to resign and step aside using armed men and the threat of violence, and that is unacceptable.

“His (Obasa) leaders in the GAC, the president, should call him to order. Lagos state has advanced way past. We don’t want to go to new lows.

“There are civilised ways to handle these things. His party should call him to order.

“Armed men coming into the assembly is a big low and a disgrace to our politics in Lagos. It’s completely disgraceful.

“It’s unfortunate that all the allegations that were brought before the former speaker, all sorts of corruption allegations, we have not seen anything come out of it.”

Meranda became the first female speaker of the Lagos assembly on January 13, after Obasa was removed while he was out of the country.

On his return, Obasa challenged the process, arguing that due procedure was not followed and insisting that he remained the legitimate speaker of the house.