Mohamed Garba
In a new twist of events, former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, has described the ongoing crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly as an erosion of democratic principles in Nigeria. He called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to use his considerable influence in Lagos politics to resolve the crisis.
In a statement released by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Atiku said the removal of former Speaker Mudashiru Obasa by an overwhelming majority of Assembly members and the appointment of Mojisola Meranda as Speaker should have been seen as a victory for democracy.
“Instead, what we are witnessing is a calculated attempt to subvert the will of the legislature through backdoor tactics and the deployment of state-backed security forces to strong-arm elected representatives,” Atiku said.
Atiku referenced former Kaduna State governor, Mallam Nasir el-Rufai, who recently accused President Tinubu of engaging in selective politics. According to Atiku, “the crisis in the Lagos legislature has provided troubling validation of these claims.”
He also condemned the invasion of the House by security operatives, describing it as “an attempt to enforce a leadership change that would return Obasa as Speaker, which is undemocratic.”
“This blatant abuse of power mirrors the dark days of military dictatorship and raises serious questions about the integrity of democratic governance in Lagos State,” he added.
Atiku questioned why, despite President Tinubu’s immense influence in Lagos politics, he has remained silent on the matter.
“His refusal to address the crisis suggests a tacit endorsement of the anti-democratic maneuvers aimed at imposing his preferred candidate against the overwhelming will of Assembly members. This silence is deafening and deeply concerning.”
He agreed with el-Rufai’s assertion that Lagos politics has long been a battleground between the Omoluabi—those known for integrity, fairness, and public service—and the crass, strong-arm tactics of ‘Area Boy’ politics, where power is retained through coercion rather than consensus.
“Nigeria’s democracy was hard-fought and must not be undermined by those who should be its foremost guardians.”
He urged President Tinubu to publicly denounce any attempt to subvert the democratic process in Lagos and to ensure that fairness, justice, and due process prevail.
“We urge all well-meaning Nigerians to remain vigilant and resolute in defending the sanctity of our democratic institutions,” Atiku concluded.