Category: General News

 

 

•Lawmakers say they’ve had enough of him

•His deputy, Moji Meranda, takes over

•Assembly clerk suspended, replaced in acting capacity

In a well-executed civilian coup, some members of the Lagos State House of Assembly, numbering 32, yesterday, impeached the speaker, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, while he was in transit from faraway Atlanta, Georgia, in the United States.

The lawmakers claimed they had had enough of Obasa and simply decided to try someone else, saying change is the only thing that is constant.

Upon removal of Obasa, who had been Speaker since 2015, they promptly replaced him with his deputy, Hon Mojisola Meranda.

Deputy Chief Whip of the Assembly, Hon. Fatai Mojeed, was also elected the new Deputy Speaker.

All existing structures in the legislature, including the standing committees, were equally dissolved.

Following in the same wind of change, the Assembly suspended its Clerk, Olalekan Onafeko, and replaced him with Mr. Abubakar Ottun, in acting capacity.

The latest development came a few weeks after Obasa was alleged to have displayed open disrespect for Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu during the 2025 budget presentation by the governor.

The impeached speaker had also seized the opportunity to hint at his own political plans, including a possible shot at the governorship.

Although the accusations levelled against Obasa bordered on corruption, the move to impeach him had been on the cards for some months following his battle with Sanwo-Olu.

Obasa had been embroiled in a series of controversies concerning his handling of the Assembly and the finances of the state legislature.

The impeachment of the longest serving Speaker of the Assembly, who was first elected in 2015, happened during an emergency plenary over alleged misappropriation of funds and lack of transparency in the management of the Assembly.

The motion to remove him was moved under Matter of Urgent Public Importance by Hon. Femi Saheed.

Saheed stated, “In line with provisions of section 92(2) (C) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Obasa is accused of gross misconduct and poor leadership, which included perpetual lateness to legislative sessions and meetings, high-handedness and lack of regard for honourable members, gross abuse of office and privileges, intimidation and oppression of honourable members by inciting members against one another, amongst others.”

Saheed alleged that Obasa also “practices an authoritarian and undemocratic leadership style in discharging his duties,” and ought to be removed.

Following the adoption of the motion, the impeachment was made by the 32 members through a voice vote.

Subsequently, Meranda emerged as new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, while Mojeed emerged Deputy Speaker.

THISDAY had exclusively reported that a prominent political leader in Lagos State, Alhaji Tajudeen Olusi, had reported Obasa to President Bola Tinubu while giving a situation report.

Olusi not only accused Obasa of being insubordinate to political leaders in the state, but also alleged that he had been rude to Sanwo-Olu, who had been tolerating him on account of his perceived closeness to Tinubu.

Obasa had recently been vocal on his ambition to be governor of Lagos State, and even declared that no one could stop him.

Since 2023, he had been at daggers-drawn with Sanwo-Olu over issues of political control. He refused to clear some nominees of the governor for the executive council until he was given two slots by the governor.

Every year, he had refused to attend the signing of the state’s appropriation bill, apparently, seeing it as beneath him. Also, he was said never to have attended events where the governor was present, and if he did, he had deliberately come late after the governor was seated, in blatant breach of protocol.

The latest of such actions happened on Sunday, January 5th, during the state’s annual thanksgiving service at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan.

Obasa’s removal came after he allegedly oversaw the withdrawal of N43.5 billion for back-up vehicles for lawmakers, as well as other controversial activities.

Obasa, 52, was first elected Speaker on June 8, 2015, resuming office alongside former governor, Akinwunmi Ambode. He was the second speaker of the Lagos Assembly to be impeached since the inception of the Fourth Republic 1999, after Hon. Jokotola Pelumi in 2005.

Repeated charges of fraud and political thuggery had marked his speakership. In 2020, Obasa allegedly diverted the Assembly’s funds to his personal firms and bank accounts.

He was once invited for questioning by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) after the anti-graft office became overwhelmed by media reports about Obasa’s alleged financial mismanagement. He denied all the allegations, and no charges were filed after he met with detectives of the agency.

However, there are indications that Obasa may be picked up by EFCC as soon as he touches down at the airport from the US today.

With her election yesterday, Meranda became Lagos State’s first female speaker.

Taking her oath of office, Meranda, who represents Apapa 1 Constituency, said, “I affirm that I will be faithful as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.”

Between 2007 and 2008, she worked in the oil and gas industry with Cirrus Nigeria Limited as a procurement manager.

A core Lagos indigene, Meranda is the younger sister of the Oniru of Oruland, Oba Gbolahan Lawal.

She joined politics in 2008, playing active roles in Apapa Local Government Area, first, as Senior Special Assistant on Intervention and Intergovernmental Affairs to the then Chairman, Ayodeji Joseph, and, later, as Supervisory Councillor for Health.

In 2014, she joined Worthline International Services Limited as head of operations, and in 2015, she returned to politics and was elected member of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

The lawmaker is an advocate of gender equality and has called for women to be allowed fair and full representation, especially in political circles.

Meranda believes there was need for a massive reorientation to ensure that women were on “the same level” with men, especially in politics.

She holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) in Mass Communication from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ).

 

By Mohammed Baba Busu

The National Hydro Electric Power Producing Areas Commission, (N-HYPPADEC) has inaugurated an 11-member Freedom Of Information (FOI) committee to boost transparency and accountability in its operations.

The Managing Director of N-HYPPADEC, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq-Yelwa, said this during the inauguration of the committee and training of members in Minna on Monday that transparency was vital in meeting public expectations.

The event which had as its theme: “Empowering Accountability Through Freedom of Information FOI“ held in Minna on Monday.

Sadiq-Yelwa said that this was in compliance with the Federal Government’s policy which mandated all its institutions to constitute the committee as part of civil service reforms.

He said accountability and transparency in service would promote efficiency in service delivery among Ministries, Departments and Agencies.

The managing director, represented by his Special Assistant, Prof. Yasin Abubakar, charged the members of the committee to leave up to their responsibilities.

He assured them of full support in carrying out its mandate successfully.

Sadiq-Yelwa said FOI was the vital  key  in achieving the mandates of the agency and urged the members to take the training serious.

In his remarks,  Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, represented by Head of Freedom of Information Unit, Barr. Godwin Garuba, commended the commission for being among the first to inaugurate the FOI committee.

He urged the committee members to perform optimally in their duties because FOI was expected to play a key role in the fight against corruption in the country.

NAN

Makinde presents instruments of office to new Alaafin of Oyo.

 

By Adewale Owoade

 

Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State has officially presented the instruments of office to the new Alaafin of Oyo, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Akeem Abimbola Owoade.

 

The presentation ceremony took place at the Executive Council Chambers, Governor’s Office, Agodi, Ibadan.

 

In his remarks, Makinde expressed the importance of the Alaafin stool to the entire Yoruba race, reiterating that under his watch, the Alaafin stool will not be sold to the highest bidder.

 

He warned that any chief found guilty of collecting bribes during the selection process will be prosecuted.

 

“The Alaafin stool is very important not just to Oyo Town or Oyo State but the entire Yoruba race. So, under my watch, I made it very clear that the stool would not be for sale. It is not a stool for us to toil with.

 

“I met Prince Owoade for the first time in my life yesterday. I never spoke to him in my entire life until yesterday.

 

“Let me also say briefly that those that are still hell-bent on destabilising the traditional institution in Oyo, the government is not letting down.

 

“We will prosecute them. The money they collected; they will still be prosecuted except they go to Kabiyesi. If he forgives them, I will also forgive them.”

 

Expressing his gratitude to Makinde and the people of Oyo, Oba Owoade pledged to prioritise the kingdom’s development and welfare of its people.

 

Oba Akeem Owoade is the 46th Alaafin of Oyo. His coronation will take place in February in Oyo town. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)

By Flowerbud News

The Rivers Restoration Movement (RRM), an interest group, has announced plans to stage peaceful protests in Abuja, Rivers, and at United Nations offices across Nigeria.

The protest aims to oppose the election of Sen. John Azuta-Mbata as President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation.

Azuta-Mbata, an Ikwerre indigene from Rivers, was elected on Saturday, a move that sparked criticism from some of his kinsmen, who argue that the Ikwerre people are not ethnically Igbo.

Speaking to journalists in Port Harcourt on Monday, RRM’s Director-General, Johnson Georgewill, issued a seven-day ultimatum for Azuta-Mbata to resign, warning of resistance from the Ikwerre people if the demand was not met.

“We are outraged that the administration of Gov. Siminalayi Fubara supported Azuta-Mbata’s election as Ohaneze Ndigbo President-General purely for political reasons,” Georgewill stated.

He emphasised that Ikwerres are not ethnically Igbos and questioned why such an important position was given to someone allegedly outside the Igbo ethnic group.

“The President-General’s primary duty is to represent the interests of all Igbo people within and outside of Nigeria.

“Are the Ikwerre people Igbos to justify Azuta-Mbata representing them? The answer is a resounding no,” Georgewill declared.

He noted that the Ikwerre people have consistently rejected claims of being Igbos since the dissolution of the former Eastern Nigeria by Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s administration.

Georgewill accused Fubara’s administration of trying to use ethnicity to destabilise the Ikwerre people for political gain, vowing that the RRM would resist such attempts.

“Former Governor Nyesom Wike, who is the political leader in Rivers worked tirelessly to maintain a 50-year political alliance between the Ijaws and Ikwerre’s, which led to Fubara’s election.

“This move undermines that bond and humiliates Rivers people by attempting to enslave the Ikwerres,” he said.

Geogewill called on Gov. Fubara to withdraw his congratulatory message to Azuta-Mbata and urged the President-General to step down within seven days.

He dismissed arguments that Ikwerres are Igbos based on linguistic and cultural similarities, citing examples from the United Kingdom where the Welsh and Scots, despite similarities, do not consider themselves English.

The director-general also called on President Bola Tinubu, who also congratulated Azuta-Mbata, the Nigerian Police, the Department of State Service (DSS), and political leaders to intervene.

“Our founding fathers such as Melford Okilo, Obi Wali, Chief Nwaobidike Wonodi, and other great Ikwerre leaders will be turning in their graves by this development.

“This injustice transcends party affiliation; it concerns the people of Rivers state and their independence within the Nigerian state” Georgewill asserted.

He urged all true sons and daughters of Rivers to speak out against what he called an injustice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) gathered that the rejection of Mbata, an ally of Fubara, may stem from the political disputes between Wike and Fubara.

Sources suggested that the Wike’s camp views Mbata’s election as a political strategy designed to weaken Wike’s influence among his Ikwerre kinsmen.

NAN

By Flowerbud News

Workers’ unions in the Lagos State-owned media organisations, on Monday, embarked on a three-day warning strike in protest of non-payment of minimum wage.

 

By Flowerbudnews
The Chairman of Oji River Local Government Area in Enugu State, Mr Greg Anyaegbudike, says his major achievement in office is the development of the draft Oji River Urban Master Plan.

Anyaegbudike revealed this in Oji River town on Monday while reeling out his achievements in his first 100 days in office as the Executive Chairman of the council area.

He said that the benefits of Oji River Urban Master Plan ranges from economic, environmental, social, infrastructure, ICT and governance benefits for the next 30 years.

 

The chairman said that that with the 30 years rolling Master Plan, “Oji River council area is setting itself up for sustainable growth, improved quality of life and a greater future for its residents.”

 

On security, he noted that before he assumed office, security was a major challenge; adding that the council had made investments in the procurement of security gadgets and equipment including hi-tech facilities to engage security.

According to him, there is now a digital surveillance system to support existing efforts for security in the council area and we have successful identified dark spots and subsequent crackdown on criminal all elements.

 

He said, “We have provided access to farm lands and bushes by opening/bulldozing new motorable roads in Uzo-Agu to Elugwu Akwu and from Ezi German deep into Agu Akwu, up to 3 kilometers. We are moving deeper.

 

“Proactively clearing of road-path bushes that previously served as ambush points; thereby,, reducing the risk of attacks and insecurity.

 

“We have strengthened Neighbourhood Watch through training and support for timely and accurate incident reporting from all neighbourhoods in Oji River as well as repaired and maintained Neighbourhood and Forest Guards vehicles for effective law enforcement.

“We have trained Local Government Chief Security Officer and his deputies on advanced digital crime combat strategies, equipment usage, enhanced and proactive crime prevention and response. We have invested massively in security, because for us it is a necessity.”

 

On infrastructure, Anyaegbudike said that the council had partnered with agencies like Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA) and Rural Electrification Agency (REA) for provision of infrastructure.

 

According to him, the reconstruction of the drainage and replacement of the culvert at the junction leading to Achi from Enugu-Awka Old Road was done in partnership with FERMA and was completed.

He said, “FERMA largely replaced the culvert at the beginning of Achi Road, while the council authority contributed to other ancillary activities like providing alternative access, control of traffic and facilitation of other aspects of the work.

 

“The council is grading and rehabilitating a failed portion of Oji-Achi-Awgu Road in partnership with House of Representatives Member for Aninri, Awgu and Oji River Federal Constituency. Work is ongoing.

 

“The repair of failed portions of Achi-Awgu Road and Nkwo Inyi Road with asphalts including removal of unfriendly bumps along the roads up to Awlaw.

“We are also making replacements with friendly bumps and filling of potholes with asphalt along Oji-Achi-Awgu Road and Amaetiti-Inyi Road etc. The council bulldozer and grader have been repaired; while its roller rehabilitation is also in line.”

The chairman said that the council had made impact in social investment on welfare and well-being of its residents as well as reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks through extensive use of technology in its offices.

 

“We are just starting. We are mindful of the social contract we have with the good people Oji River council area and our resolve to provide outstanding service to our people remains unwavering,” he added.

 

By Flowerbudnews

The immediate past President of the Nigerian Union of Traders Ghana (NUTAG), Chief Chukwuemeka Nnaji, has lauded Gov. Peter Mbah unprecedented developmental strides in Enugu State within two years.

“We in Diaspora are ready to join the developmental strides and support Gov. Mbah through investment in industry, businesses and linkages as far as we guarantee a conducive business environment and protection of our investments,” Nnaji said.

The Diaspora leader told newsmen in Ubahu community near Enugu on Sunday that Mbah’s administration had pushed ahead with Enugu State development and “done so much work within a very short period”.

“Recently, President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the International Conference Centre, a people-oriented project abandoned by successive administrations for about 20 years.

“The President also inaugurated 150 security vehicles mounted with hi-tech CCTV cameras and other gadgets; Security Command Control Centre and hundreds of CCTV cameras and searchlights installed in roads, junctions and public places within Enugu metropolis.

“Of course, completed hundreds of newly-constructed road networks ensuring ease of accessibility and enhancing aesthetics of the state in general in less than two years.

 

“Completed three world-class bus terminals in Enugu and Nsukka metropolises; built hundreds of Smart Green Schools and Smart Type-2 Primary Healthcare Centres,” he said.

 

Nnaji, who was the President of NUTAG for eight years, noted that coming back home to Ubahu axis of Nkanu East Local Government Area of the state, “I appreciate the massive and progressive work in the 40-kilometre Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Neke-Ikem Dual Carriageway.”

 

He said that since he came home, he had noticed that work is ongoing everyday of the week in the Owo-Ubahu-Amankanu-Neke-Ikem Dual Carriageway; while there are other link and access roads fully asphalted in various communities in the council area.

 

Nnaji said, “We have a Smart Green School and Smart Post-Primary School completed and functional close to us here and other ongoing Smart Green Schools and Smart Type-2 PHC centres projects around us here.

 

“As far as working is concerned, our governor is performing excellently well. He is building world-class infrastructure meant to reposition Enugu State as a 21st century state.

 

“I was in China last year, I saw that they have moved forward in their developmental landscape. For us in the Diaspora, we feel happy to see that our homeland is moving forward with the rest of the world.”

 

Nnaji also called the governor’s attention to youths empowerment and building industries that would provide gainful and lasting employment to the people especially youths of the state.

 

“We are having challenges as it concerns our youths being jobless and some being heavy drunks in a tender age; if this continues the life span of our people may drop and there will be continuous security challenges.

 

“We also have water challenges in this axis, even though, I know Gov. Mbah has done much about provision of water to Enugu metropolis; but we are appealing to extend the same to this axis of the state.

 

“Gov. Mbah is also doing well in agriculture but there is a need to coordinate it better.

 

“There is a need to coordinate youths towards agriculture beyond political party lines as we have the land to gainfully engage thousands in agriculture and tap in its enormous benefits,” he said.

 

The NUTAG leader said that if the state government opens it hands for partnership, the people in the Diaspora are willing to come home and invest to further support his developmental agenda and dreams.

 

“We can establish factories especially if we are sure that security provisions are here. We can, in a coordinated manner, establish big industries if we are sure that there is rule of law.

 

“The rule of law that ensures that when a crime is committed, an offender is apprehended or taken to the police; and then the law court panelises him or her.

 

“When the security is available, rule of law is here and other institutions working, more Diaspora Nigerians, not necessarily indigenes of Enugu State, would love to invest here, create jobs, pay taxes and get returns on their investment.

 

“I, Nnaji, and host of my friends are willingly to invest if the right things and environment are put in place in the state to further open up the state for the benefit of all,” he added.

 

Flowerbudnews

(Alh. Kazeem Akinleye, Chief of Staff to Osun State Governor)

The Olodo/Gaa Fulani Owode Ede community in Ede North Local Government Area of Osun State has erupted in celebration following the donation and immediate installation of a brand-new 500kVA  transformer by the Chief of Staff to the Osun State Governor, Alhaji Kazeem Akinleye.

Residents, who had endured months of darkness and hardship due to the lack of electricity, rejoiced as the restoration of power brought much-needed relief and renewed hope to their community.

In a heartfelt show of gratitude, community leaders praised Alhaji Kazeem Kolapo Akinleye for his unwavering commitment to improving the lives of the people.

Speaking on behalf of the community, they expressed profound appreciation for his generosity and his ability to deliver on campaign promises with swift and decisive action.

“You have shown true leadership and statesmanship, demonstrating what democracy should look like in action. The Olodo/Gaa Fulani community is immensely grateful for your dedication and for bringing light—both literally and figuratively—into our lives,” said one community leader.

The transformer, which has already been installed and made operational, will serve not only Olodo/Gaa Fulani but also neighboring communities. This ensures a reliable electricity supply, fostering opportunities for economic growth and improving the quality of life for many.

Residents also extended their gratitude to the Osun State Governor, His Excellency, Senator Nurudeen Jackson Ademola Adeleke, commending his administration’s dedication to impactful projects that prioritize the welfare of citizens.

As a gesture of goodwill and appreciation, the community pledged their unwavering support for the administration’s vision, describing Alhaji Akinleye and Governor Adeleke as champions of justice, accountability, and transparency.

This remarkable act has been hailed as a model of responsive governance and a testament to the transformative vision of the Osun State Government.