Kunle ADELABU
Principal officers of the Lagos State House of Assembly
From all indications, the Speakership position of the Lagos State House of Assembly, which is the number three position in the political hierarchy of the state, is up for grab among the ranking lawmakers in the state Assembly.
The inauguration of the 9th Assembly is slated for Friday, June 7, 2019.
The much coveted position is currently being occupied by Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa (Agege I), who is returning to the House for the fifth term.
According to findings, Hon. Obasa, who is the most senior lawmaker in the House, is still very much interested in leading the 9th Assembly.
Others in line to occupy the exalted position are Hon. Sanai Agunbiade (Ikorodu I) who is currently the Majority Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu I) who is the Chief Whip, Hon. Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu I), the Chairman, House Committee on Local Government, Hon. Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland II), Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts and Hon. Adebisi Yusuf (Alimosho I). They are all returning to the Assembly for the fourth term.
Other lawmakers who are returning to the House for the fourth term and are also eminently qualify to occupy the exalted seat are the Deputy Speaker, Hon. Wasiu Eshinlokun (Lagos Island I), Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Muyiwa Jimoh (Apapa II), the Chairman, House Committee on Appropriation, and Hon. Gbolahan Yishau (Eti-Osa i).
There are other lawmakers who are also interested in leading the Assembly which has been considered as pacesetter in legislative excellence in Nigeria and beyond .
Although, the incumbent is favoured to get the nod of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership but the dynamism of the House has foreclosed this certainty.
Information coming out of the House has shown that it is not going to be an easy ride for the incumbent considering the fact that most of the other interested members are also highly placed and may also get the support of the party leadership.
THE IMPACT gathered that many of the House members are not pleased with the incumbent leadership especially when it concerns their welfare.
Another major source of concern for most of the lawmakers was the Speaker’s dealings with the immediate past Governor which they were allegedly not comfortable with.
THE IMPACT also gathered that the situation in the House over Speakership position is very tense but members have been handling the matter with maturity.
A reliable source at the Assembly told THE IMPACT that Lagos Assembly men are human beings with differences but have been managing their affairs honourably.
“Assembly men in Lagos are also human beings like those in other states but what stands them out are the ways and manners they address their differences and handle issues no matter the gravity of the issues.
Members of the Lagos State House of Assembly during a sitting
“Members of the House, especially the ranking members, are aware of the expectations of the party and that of the national leader and you can be sure that they will handle the issue of the Speakership and other principal positions with utmost maturity”, he stated.
THE IMPACT has, however, gathered that a former four term member and a power broker in the House who is now the Lagos East Senator-elect, Hon. Bayo Osinowo, will play a crucial role in deciding who emerge the next Speaker.
THE IMPACT also gathered that the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) , Aswaju Bola Tinubu, and the Lagos State chapter of the party would heavily depend on Osinowo’s recommendations for the Speakership and other principal positions in the House.
We also gathered that the Senator-elect is yet to make his position known to the contenders, a situation that has reportedly further given interested lawmakers to embark on behind the scene campaign with the belief that the position is open for everyone to vie for.
Another major factor that will determine the emergence of the next Speaker is the unwritten law of stability which Lagos Assembly has been known for.
If there is anything that has been going on well for the Assembly, it is the stability which the House has maintained with the ranking lawmakers getting the support of the party to return to the House to occupy principal offices and chair important committees as well as provide leadership for new members.
This, according to report, has made the penetration or control of the Assembly an uphill task for any governor.
Another factor that may determine who gets the Speakership and other positions in the 9th Assembly is the zoning arrangement .
Presently , the number one position in the state is being occupied by Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu who is from Lagos Island in Lagos Central Senatorial District, while his deputy, Dr Kadri Femi Hamzat is from … in Lagos West Senatorial District, although, a section of the public has claimed that he contested for the deputy position from Epe (Lagos East Senatorial District) which is his maternal Constituency .
THE IMPACT, however, gathered that the zoning arrangement is gradually being eroded within the Lagos political arrangement as the party has not been allocating political offices based on senatorial or divisional basis .
The national leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu who is also the major financial backer of the party in Southwest, according to report, is said to no longer interested in the zoning arrangement but loyalty, trust and competence among other criteria.
THE IMPACT also gathered that many of the ranking members who have shown interest in the Speakership position have Plan B which is to use their respective aspirations to bargain for other principal offices and juicy committees if they are unable to get the number one position.
THE IMPACT also gathered that those interested to lead the House are now meeting newly elected members to woo them ahead of the inauguration.
It is, however, generally believed that whoever hopes to emerge as the Speaker in the 9th Assembly in the state will need the support of fellow lawmakers, especially those returning for the 4th, 3rd and 2nd terms.
