By Olanrewaju Adesanya
Political matrix are way beyond chess game and intriguingly laced with some sharp twist and turns, as the 10th Assembly recalibrates sometime early June 2023, the need to churn out amidst the forty members, the Speaker and consequently principal officers remain hazy.
As whoever becomes the speaker at the end of the day will inform who gets what in the principal office allotments.
The emergence of the Speaker is always sealed by smart moves and well calculated targets as there are no moral basis in it from the National Assembly down to the states across the federation.
As the case stands today two unprecedented developments awaits the house prior the proclamation of the 10th Assembly.
First One
Ever since the first proclamation of the 1st Assembly in October 2, 1979 which had Rt.Hon. Oladosun Oshinowo as its Speaker (primus inter pares) till the 9th Assembly proclamation in June 8th , 2019 which re-affirms Rt.Hon. Mudashiru Obasa for the second term as Speaker, the battle for speakership has always been intense, covert and quite intricate.
However, Obasa’s second term as Speaker of the House of 40 legislators that prides itself as one beyond the common standard of excellence gradually grinds to a halt, permutations, frantic gerrymandering are in full swing to make the never heard of before in the history of the state legislature come to pass.
Simply put it is all about having Obasa re- emerge as a 3rd term Speaker.
Mudashiru Ajayi Obasa belongs to the class of movers and shakers of the state Assembly having being around since 2003 and if allowed to take the third shot at the Speakership position will clearly have broken a jinx that his predecessors were unable to break .
On the account that he has successfully staged a comeback to the house for five consecutive times,he clearly enjoys an unprecedented luck, as he was the least among those considered at his first emergence as Speaker.
Given his long stay in the legislature, he understands the game of power within the hallowed chamber so well and with the terminal exit of the most revered late Hon. Bayo Oshinowo aka ‘Pepperito’ a political colossus from the Lagos East Senatorial District, the pitch seems ready made for the Obasa’s third term speakership bid to be made good.
Barring any unforeseen circumstances the coast seems clear for him even in his locality- Agege where he ranks the most experienced legislator to have represented for so long and for the fact that another deciding factor late Professor Babatunde Samuel a Governor Advisory Council member had long ceased to breathe and so he is highly placed amongst the GAC.
Yet with all the highlighted green lights Obasa been a smooth player is leaving no stone unturned, reminiscent of what he did prior the proclamation of 9th Assembly to reorder the structure, his foot soldiers had returned to the field to enlist quite a number of the new entrants that will constitute a whole half of the 10th Assembly from Ajeromi Ifelodun to Amuwo-Odofin, Badagry, Ikeja, Ikorodu, Ifako-Ijaiye down to Shomolu/Bariga and other areas.
Right in the heart of Amuwo-Odofin where the two new entrants from the Labour Party are coming advances are already being made, with promise of minority leadership and other juicy committee cherry being deployed to seek their vote.
Howbeit there are still some internal squabbles within the chamber, first is the Yeye Asiwaju–Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s interference, this played out prior the consummation of the 8th Assembly which threw up the now Senator-Elect Eshinlokun-Sanni’s kite but for discreet moves by the late Oshinowo and others Obasa’s chances would have been long scuttled.
It is however, taking a new dimension this time around as Hon. Gbolahan Yishau from Eti Osa Constituency 2, Hon. Abiodun Tobun from Epe Constituency 1 and Hon. Fatai Mojeed from Ibeju Lekki constituency 1, all ranking members of the house are being tipped for the job.
Although most of these listed individuals are already in charge of juicy committees, especially Yishawu who chairs the Economic and Appropriation Committee and Mojeed who chairs the Public Account Local and are still in the good books of Obasa , may likely guard jealously the existing smooth relationship to keep enjoying the largesse that this brings for them in the forging 10th Assembly.
Tobun on the other hand being a sound lawmaker and one of the most ranked member in the house, a team player in charge of the committee on Works is really a well rounded personality who possessed the leadership qualities that qualifies him for the post and barring any last minute party directives to which he will always oblige as a down- to – earth party man, the speakership also suites him so well.
Obasa’s mien thus far has been to maintain a tight clinch with the President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in that there is hardly any speech credited to him that is devoid of a mention of Tinubu, some keen watchers of his moves were of the view that he was only doing that to make the public feel he has the ears of Asiwaju at all times and that he remains his anointed one.
Secondly, principal officers of the hallowed chamber will likely bring up some subterfuge as many eyeing the few seats have a lot of odds around them that negates the attainment of the position they so much covet and consequently their colleagues may likely look the other way when the chips are down..
Starting from the Deputy Speakership, Majority Leader , Deputy Majority Leader, Chief Whip and Deputy Whip many of those jostling for the Speakership position may have to settle for one of this once the house decides on who should be their first amongst equal-Speaker.
As the case stands now, the Deputy Speakership position will likely be keenly jostled between Hon. Tobun from Lagos East Senatorial District, the current Chief Whip Hon. Mojisola Meranda and Hon. Desmond Olushola Elliott from Lagos Central Senatorial District.
For Tobun if the Speakership position is negotiated he could be tipped for the Deputy Speaker office, Desmond may also use the good influence of his political leader Rt. Hon Femi Gbajabiamila Speaker Federal House of Representatives and his good rapport cum charismatic personality and goal getting mien to grab a principal office slot.
He sure has a good attitude and friendly comportment as one of his winning ace coupled with luck on his side, as we await the members decision in a matter of weeks now the 10th Assembly promises to be an interesting one given the entrance of political bigwigs and much more feature of full bred Lagosians in the saddle, from the Island to the hinterlands.