By Dapo Akinrefon
Lagos State House of Assembly is unarguably one of the the best state legislative houses in the country.
The race for the Speaker of the assembly is hotting up.
Lanre Ogunyemi, Mudasiru Obasa, Rotimi Abiru, Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, Funmilayo Tejuosho and Gbolahan Yisawu
Before the April 11 governorship and House of Assembly elections, the current Deputy Speaker, Hon. Kolawole Taiwo, being the longest serving member in the history of the House, was considered to succeed Adeyemi Ikuforiji but the outcome of the election has changed the game following his defeat at the polls. This has paved the way for some returning lawmakers to throw their hats into the ring.
The zoning of political offices is not alien to the Nigerian polity. In Lagos, especially within the ruling party, zoning is a factor to ensure stability among the three senatorial districts.
Based on the existing zoning arrangement, the governor-elect, Akinwunmi Ambode, hails from Lagos East while his deputy, Mrs Idiat Adebule, is from Lagos West senatorial district.
It is thus expected that the next Speaker of the House may come from Lagos Central, East or West depending on the decision of the APC leadership. With Kolawole Taiwo out of the race, some of the returning lawmakers have begun lobbying the party hierarchy in order to emerge the next speaker of the House.
Lawmakers jostling
Lanre Ogunyemi
Lanre Ogunyemi, from Ojo 2, is returning to the House for the second time. Ogunyemi is from Lagos West.
Mudasiru Obasa
Mudasiru Obasa from Agege 1, is the current Chairman of the House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning.
Obasa is considered one of the most respected lawmakers in the House and commands much respect among his colleagues. He is from Lagos West.
Rotimi Abiru
Rotimi Abiru, from Somolu 2, is currently the Deputy Chief Whip of the House. Interestingly, Abiru is the only principal officer that got elected during the just concluded polls. Other principal officers lost out either at party primaries or during the elections.
Meanwhile, some factors endear him to both his colleagues and party leaders. His mien and attributes are perceived to give him the edge to lead the House.
In addition, his experience cannot be overlooked as he is coming in as a third term lawmaker.
Another factor analysts posit will hand him the mantle of leadership is his intelligence and articulateness. Also, owing to the fact that he has been in the House since 2007, Abiru has been one of the most active lawmakers.
Abiru is also regarded as a good manager of human and material resources. He reads the mood of the House and proffers solutions/suggestions on issues where necessary; that is why he is nicknamed ‘Barometer’ by his colleagues. He is from Lagos East.
Moshood Osun
Moshood Olanrewaju Osun, from Lagos Mainland 1, will be representing his constituency for a third term, coming from a rich legislative background.
Osun is also a respected lawmaker in the House and coming from the Lagos Central may be an advantage if the party considers his zone.
Funmilayo Tejuosho
Hon. Funmilayo Tejuosho represents Mushin Constituency 1. She is from Lagos West. She was the Deputy Speaker in the 6th Assembly. Tejuosho has remained consistently dogged and the most formidable amazon on the floor of the House. She is brilliant, articulate and capped it up with needed legislative experience. Leading the Assembly will not be new to Tejuosho as she had once served as Deputy Speaker in the Assembly where she presided over proceeding in the absence of the Speaker.
Gbolahan Yisawu
Gbolahan Yisawu, from Eti Osa 1, was said to have started lobbying for the post even before the party primaries and this development has made many of his colleagues to regard him as having inordinate ambition. He is from Lagos Central.
Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni
Wasiu Eshinlokun-Sanni, from Lagos Island 1, was a member of the House between 1999 and 2003. Pundits posit that the absence of 12 years may have shut him out of the current legislative reality, though he is also from Lagos Central.
Zoning and balance
Analysts hold the view that the zoning arrangement should be set aside to allow a high ranking member, who is competent, brilliant and has ability to coordinate and carry other members along in the day-to-day running of the House, become the next Speaker of the House.
Besides considering the fact that Governor-elect Ambode will be serving his first tenure, he would need a competent and intelligent Speaker, who has ability to carry his colleagues along in order to sustain the relationship that has been existing between the two arms of government.
A credible source in the House, who craved anonymity, said, “Ikuforiji’s competence and achievements were unprecedented 1n the history of the Lagos Assembly and it would have amounted to a high level of disservice to the people of the state if we had gone ahead to sacrifice merit, competence and accomplishment for zoning, a mere and unwritten political arrangement.”
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