By
Rahman Owokoniran
Removal of Obasa as Speaker of the Lagos State Assembly should be irreversible. The current chaos going on should never have occurred in the first place, talk more of within the hallowed premises of the Lagos State Assembly.
Lagos is a state that prides itself as a centre of excellence. The state, being the first administrative institution to be established in the entire Federation of the country, should be better placed in matters of governance and legislative procedures. The President had ample opportunity to seek quality advice on the best way to handle the situation. But going by the current situation, it is obvious that he has allowed his emotion to override his judgment and his decision.
Two wrongs have never made a right and don’t make a right in this case. Even if he thought the lawmakers overreached themselves in this instance he still has to follow the due process of the law. He has to be guided by the constitutional process and allow the people’s rights as representatives of their various constituencies to be respected.
It is time to bid bye-bye to Obasa’s 10 years as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly -even if it is becoming an inglorious exit by his decision to externalise its internal contradictions.
Reversing the decision is not only an insult to the rights of the lawmakers and their constituents but also an attempt to undermine their rights as representatives of the people. They were ridiculed, mocked and shamed for expressing their desires and beliefs in the performance of their duties.
It isn’t just that the President’s actions are inimical to democratic values, it is also offensive towards the people who voted for the President and those Assembly members. Tinubu’s impulsive behaviour and actions regarding this subject matter are uncalled for, after all the whole 40 members of the House of Assembly are members of the same party, APC.
RAHMAN OWOKONIRAN WRITES FROM LAGOS
