Obasa

Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly and Chairman of the Conference of Speakers of State Legislatures, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, on Sunday, urged the governors of Edo and Bauchi states, Godwin Obaseki, and Bala Mohammed, to immediately resolve the crisis that have engulfed the respective Houses of Assembly in their states.

Obasa asked for reversal of the proclamations of the Houses of Assembly in both states as well as the elections of principal officers, adding that illegality should not thrive on the altar of perceived personal ego and interest.

The Speakers’ Conference Chairman warned strongly that the body would not recognise any Speaker of a state legislature that emerges through fraudulent means or violation of the Constitution and Business Rules of the affected House of Assembly as the organisation cannot condone illegality.

In a statement personally signed by the Speaker, he admonished the governors to adhere to the Nigerian constitution as well as the rules of the Houses of Assembly, which stipulate how principal officers should emerge.

“No lover of democracy in the country should support the charade that happened recently at both Houses of Assembly. If we must make progress, we must work in an atmosphere of
peace, love and unity.

“We must also all call on the governors to do the needful by reversing their actions and acting in accordance with the laws backing up the legislative arms of the affected states,” the Speaker said.

Obasa argued that even though Section 92(1), Chapter V of the 1999 Constitution simply states that there shall be a Speaker and a Deputy Speaker of a House of Assembly who shall be elected by the members of the House from among themselves, Section 98(1 and 2) clearly stipulates that voting must be by simple majority.

Specifically, Section 98(2) states expressly: “Except as otherwise provided by this Constitution, the required majority for the purpose of determining any question shall be a simple majority.”

While reacting to the injunction secured by the 11 members of the Bauchi House of Assembly stopping the majority in the House from parading their elected Speaker and Deputy, Obasa cautioned the Judiciary against unnecessarily meddling in the affairs of the State Legislatures.

He said the injunction from the Bauchi State High Court was frivolous and must be stopped.

“Why should any reasonable court grant injunction in favour of 11 against 20? Why should the Judiciary interfere in the business of the legislature which is supposed to operate on the principle of separation of powers?” Obasa queried, stressing that this was part of the discussions recently at a two-day conference on the implementation of autonomy for State Legislatures and Judiciary in Abuja.