No Leadership Vacuum In Lagos – Directorate

LAGOS – The Inter-Party Affairs Directorate in Lagos State has said that there is no leadership vacuum in Lagos State.

In a statement issued in Lagos on Monday, the Directorate took a look at the recent crisis at the Lagos State House of Assembly,band warned that every party to the crisis should obey the decision of President Bola Tinubu, as he is the All Progressives Congress (APC) Leader in the state.

The statement, titled ‘Obasa/LSHA Conundrum: The Way Forward, urged all stakeholders to key into the reconciliation move and play their roles well.

The statement, signed by Prince Adewale Sampson, the Director, Inter-Party Directorate, and Comrade Shola Omolola, the Deputy Director, urged everyone to respect President Tinubu’s opinion and do not do things without carrying him alone.

It stressed: “PBAT’s quick Intervention has shown that there is no leadership vacuum in the state, and we expect everybody to jey in and play there roles well.”

The Directorate urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) leaders in Lagos should put on their thinking caps and do the needful.

It noted that Lagos is the epicentre of democracy in Nigeria, and that must be upheld and protected by all.

The Directorate stated that the current drama in the Assembly us needless and avoidable, even as it added that it is disturbed by the ongoing malfeasance and hounding in the chamber by the lawmakers.

It stressed that stories emanating from the chamber in recent time, had been disturbing and alarming.

“Firstly, it was that the security of the former Speaker of LSHA, Hon. Mojisola Meranda’s has been withdrawn by the IGP.

“This was followed by the bold and unexpected movement of the Speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa into the hallowed chamber with the assistance of the Police and DSS. He even led plenary with four members.

“Afterwards, he addressed the media, saying that he was back on vacation, and still remained the Speaker.

“The intervention of PBAT has shown clearly that he is still the Leader and always rewards loyalty.

“Hon. Obasa is a loyal and dedicated lieutenant to PBAT and that has been handsomely rewarded with his return as Speaker.

“His removal was an hatchet job and PBAT was not in the know.

“Those who want to use the removal of the Speaker to score a political point and assume leadership should allow peace to reign and let’s all return to status quo.”

The Directorate reminded the stakeholders that the local government election would be taking place later in the year, and that winning the election should be uppermost in the mind of everyone than wasting precious time to dwell on the APC’ Leadership in the state “as Asiwaju is not ready to quit the stage yet.”

The statement went in: “Lagos is the epitome of democracy and democratic ideals in Nigeria and we will not allow the memories of our past political leaders to be dragged in the mud on the altar of the personal ambition of those who want to assume leadership because Asiwaju is now busy as the President of Nigeria.

“PBAT’s intervention has shown that there is no leadership vacuum in the state. And we expect everybody to key in and play there roles well.

“We should not allow Lagos to be demystified like some other states like Rivers where only three Assembly members sit in the legislative Assembly and thus recognised by the governor.

“Or like Osun State that will not allow the rule of law to take its pride of place, and be the arbiter in times of crisis.

“Hon. Obasa should be given the necessary support by the Assembly members and the Executive too, so that the Assembly can give Lagosians the dividends of democracy it deserves.

Lagos State is having the Local Government elections soon, and we must not allow this crisis to escalate into a situation that can decimate the party and cause the opposition to upset the system and the ruling party.

“We must come together as one big family that should be matured enough to handle its crisis without haemorrhaging or escalating it beyond proportion, and be matured enough to disagree without being disagreeable.

“We have had enough from this dramatis personae and it is time to nip this anomaly in the bud and respect the decision of the Leader.

“This is indeed a clarion call on our keaders to immediately show leadership qualities and traits expected of a Leader, and hold the party together.

“We call on the GAC to have a good working relationship with Asiwaju, the President and Leader of the oarty, the governor of the state, the Speaker, the party leadership and leaders across board, so that we won’t have to witness this kind of drama at the Lagos Assembly in Lagos again.

“We need the GAC to maintain synergy with all stakeholders in the state , so we can have smooth operations and quick resolution of ussues before it escalates and becomes an embarrassment to everybody.

“Lastly, we appeal and call on the APC party leadership to help save the situation before it degenerates further.

“They have all it takes to put an end to this unnecessary and avoidable drama.

“Let’s all rally round PBAT, respect his ipinion and not do things without carrying the Leader along.

“There was a working relationship and style between the Leaders and PBAT, and that should be rekindled moving morward.”