Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa has debunked speculations of subsisting conflict in the state chapter of the All Progress.
Obasa also refuted the insinuations that the stronghold of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the National Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), on the political structure of Lagos is crumbling, saying the political empire of the former governor remains ‘intact and strong’.
LagosTimes Reports that Obasa was reacting to the development in the Assembly earlier in the week, which has resulted in speculations in many quarters that there is a crisis within the APC family in Lagos State.
One of the speculations, as reported, is that of a frosty relationship between Obasa and Bayo Osinowo, a former member of the Assembly and a power broker and senator representing Lagos East in the National Assembly.
This conflict of gladiators in political terrain of Lagos has made four members of the state assembly a collateral damage after they were punish because of their loyalty and allegiance to Osinowo, instead of Obasa.
The Speaker said inculcating a sense of discipline among lawmakers does not in anyway translate to friction in any form between him and members of the party.
He said Asiwaju Tinubu has gone through a lot of building the APC in Lagos and Nigeria, adding that nobody in his right senses would do anything to be a clog in the wheel of the party’s progress.
“Tinubu remains everything to the continued success of the party he built from the scratch and nurtured up to this moment.
“It is unarguable that his resilience, love for democracy, passion to see his foot-soldiers grow and belief in discipline cannot be measured,” Obasa said.
He said APC in Lagos remained united, noting that what happened in the House involving the removal of two principal officers and the suspension of two others was a measure to ensure that the legislature remained strengthened and its sanctity maintained.
“The legislature must remain strong at all times, especially in relation to democracy because it is often the hardest hit where issues in the democratic journey pop up.
“This is why during plenary on Monday, I made this proclamation: ‘The parliament is a heartbeat of every democratic system, its sanctity, integrity and positive reputation should be guided and protected, hence discipline is a key and where it’s lacking, the hope of the people fizzles.”
To further prove that the Assembly is united, Obasa said 33 members sat at plenary on Tuesday with the newly elected principal officers including the deputy leader carrying out their tasks as expected.
The Speaker denied any rift between him and Osinowo, popularly called Pepper, who he described as a friend and mentor and with whose support he had excelled in legislative activities.
Stressing this cordial relationship, Obasa said he was with Osinowo on Tuesday and that they both drove in his convoy.
“I was the one that dropped Senator Osinowo off on his way to Abuja yesterday. If there is a rift between us, will that happen?”