Politics
Women Group Calls For Peaceful Governorship Election In Osun
A Women group, Women Situation Room Nigeria (WSRN) has called for peaceful governorship election in Osun on Saturday, July 16.
The group’s Assistant Programme Manager, Jane Siesi, made the call at a news conference yesterday in Osogbo ahead of the election.
Siesi urged effective participation of women groups through sensitisations and mobilisation.
She urged security agencies to uphold their duties of protection of lives and property before, during and after the election.
Siesi also requested the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to uphold their duty of impartiality and fairness.
“We kindly request that INEC uphold their duty of impartiality, fairness and ensure that interest of persons with disabilities are protected with enabling environment for them to vote in the election.
“Election administration and arrival of materials should be done in a timely manner,’’ she said.
According to her, the two rapid assessment conducted in the state and reports from the media monitoring, revealed that the state had been relatively peaceful.
Siesi also said that there had been reported low incidences of sexual, physical and financial violence.
She said that the group would deploy 60 women observers in all the 30 local government areas of the state to observe the elections from a gender perspective.
“The WSRN during election will observe inclusion and participation of women, transparency of the process and violence against women in elections.
“The WSRN was created of the understanding of the gendered and dynamic nature of violence and the fact that elections are conflict triggers in most African countries.
“It therefore became imperative that women develop a mechanism to counter this pattern. “The goal of WSRN is to ensure that all elections in Nigeria are peaceful, as women and youths play a substantive role in sustaining and building peace in communities, state and national levels,’’ she said.
Siesi also appealed to road transport workers to support INEC in timely, effective transportation and distribution of election materials.
She called on women to shun all forms of vote selling during the election.
The Lagos State House of Assembly has impeached Mudashiru Obasa as Speaker.
Rt Hon. Obasa, who is serving his third term as Speaker, was removed from his position over allegations of gross misconduct and abuse of office.
The 52-year-old lawmaker, who represents Agege State Constituency I, became Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2015.
Rt Hon. Mojisola Meranda, the Deputy Speaker, was subsequently elected to lead the House.
Rt Hon. Meranda, who took her oath of office immediately, would serve as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State legislature.
Speaking to journalists after Rt Hon. Obasa’s impeachment last Monday, a member of the House said the decision was unanimous.
The legislator also confirmed that all principal positions and standing committees in the Assembly have been dissolved
“It is just a change of baton. It is only death that is constant. Change is inevitable,” the member said.
“The members of the parliament, today, have decided to change the leadership of the House. And the constitution makes it clear that the House has the power to regulate its proceedings.
“So, members of the House felt we have had enough of Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa; and today, we have unanimously agreed that Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda becomes the Speaker.
“It was a resolution concurred to by all members of the parliament and so be it. Honourable Fatai Adebola is Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly.
“And as we speak, all the principal positions have been dissolved. All standing committees stand dissolved”, he added.
In 2023, the Assembly faced public backlash after rejecting 17 out of 39 commissioner nominees submitted by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
At the time, Rt Hon. Obasa denied any rift with the governor, although the issue prompted a meeting with the Governor’s Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision-making body of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos.
More recently, the Rt Hon. Obasa-led Assembly proposed a bill to restructure local governance in the state.
The bill sought to replace the existing 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) created in 2003 by Bola Tinubu, former governor of the state, with democratically elected local governments, recognising only 20 LGAs as outlined in the 1999 Constitution.
However, in a statement seen as a counter, Cornelius Ojelabi, the APC chairman in Lagos State, insisted that elections would still hold in the 20 LGAs and 37 LCDAs in 2025.
Rt Hon. Obasa was impeached following a motion moved under the Matter of Urgent Public Importance by Femi Saheed.
Hon. Saheed, in line with provision of section 92(2) (C) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, accused Rt Hon. Obasa of gross misconduct and poor leadership, which included perpetual lateness to legislative sessions and meetings; high handedness and lack of regard for members; gross abuse of office and privileges; intimidation and oppression of members by inciting them against one another, amongst others.
He mentioned that Rt Hon. Obasa also practised an authoritarian and undemocratic leadership style in discharging his duties.
He, therefore, moved the motion for impeachment.
Following the adoption of the motion, the impeachment was made by the 32 members through a voice vote.
Subsequently, Rt Hon. Meranda emerged as the new Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, while Fatai Mojeed emerged as the Deputy Speaker of the Assembly.
In a related development, the House also suspended the Clerk of the Assembly, Olalekan Onafeko. He was replaced with Mr. Abubakar Ottun as Acting Clerk of the House.
Later, Abiodun Tobun, representing Epe Constituency 1, while speaking with newsmen on behalf of the lawmakers, explained why the members changed the leadership of the House.
According to him, “The Lagos State House of Assembly has declared its decision to impeach Speaker Mudashiru Obasa. The impeachment was a unanimous decision by the lawmakers.
“The lawmakers agreed to take this step to safeguard our image and Lagos State. Change is inevitable, and we felt it was time for a new direction.
“All standing committees and principal officer positions have been dissolved. We are determined to work together to elevate the Assembly and deliver on our responsibilities to Lagosians.”
He explained that the Constitution empowers the Assembly to regulate its proceedings, and members reached a consensus to end Obasa’s tenure.
The lawmakers assured the public of their commitment to the progress and stability of Lagos State under the new leadership.
The National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance, on Monday, queried the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) over “excessive spendings” on meals, refreshments, mosquito killings and others in 2024.
-
Business2 hours ago
Subscribers Set To sue Telecos Over Proposed Tariff Hike
-
Politics37 mins agoObasa Impeachment: Lagos Assembly Gets First Female Speaker
-
Rivers1 hour ago
Welfare Ministry Reviews 2024 Milestones … Prioritizes Remodeling Children’s, Elderly Homes
-
Politics5 days agoNASS Sets Date For 2025 Budget Passage
-
Business50 mins ago‘Navy Stern In Fight Against Oil Theft’
-
Business2 hours ago
Abia Communities Protest Over Nsulu Aurport Project … Allege Exposure To Farmland Extinction
-
News26 mins agoLet’s Celebrate Gallantry Of Soldiers More While Alive Than In Death – Fubara
-
Rivers1 hour ago
NGO Seeks Better Health For Women, Children