Mojisola Meranda has stepped down as Speaker amid the leadership crisis rocking the Lagos State Assembly.
Although she resigned from her position, the crisis is still unresolved as Obasa’s removal divided the Assembly and the leadership of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.
Meranda said she resigned to protect the state assembly, adding that she is not a quitter.
“This is a notice of resignation as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly,” Meranda earlier read her resignation letter out at the plenary Monday afternoon.
“I take a bow as you as your Speaker,” she announced.
Before announcing her resignation, the state lawmakers took turns to commend her leadership acumen, diligence, and performance within her short time in office.
In his remarks, Lawmaker representing Surulere Constituency, Desmond Elliot thanked her, saying she demonstrated good leadership and led the house well.
Another lawmaker, Temitope Adewale, representing Ifako-Ijaiye I, said, “We celebrate you for your quality service. You are a heroine of democracy. You came, you saw, you conquered. You are a victim of circumstance. This house is in tears.”
Meranda, a former Deputy Speaker, was voted by over 30 members of the Assembly to take over as the Speaker on January 13 when the House removed Obasa as speaker.
Controversy since then has trailed the development, with Obasa contesting his removal while stating he remains the Speaker of the Assembly.
On Thursday, Obasa, with the aid of security operatives, stormed the Assembly complex, reportedly broke the locks of the Speaker’s office and chambers and presided over a four-man plenary.
With the controversy, the House is presumably broken into two factions, a 36-man faction that passed a vote of confidence in Mrs. Mojisola Meranda as Speaker and a four-man faction loyal to Obasa that sat on Thursday.
It was reported that police escorts assigned to Meranda were withdrawn last week. Security personnel guarding the Assembly complex were also reportedly redeployed and replaced last Monday.
Meanwhile, Meranda was re-elected on Monday as the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.
Meranda accepted the role of deputy speaker, pledging to serve the state in good faith.
Moreover, Mojeed Fatai also resigned as the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, while Sanni Okanlawon also stepped down as the Chief Whip of the Assembly,