In what could be described as a coup d’etat, the Lagos State House of Assembly on Monday removed two of its principal officers, the Chief Whip of the House, Hon. Rotimi Abiru and the Deputy Majority Leader, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh.
Two other members of the House, Hon. Moshood Oshun (Lagos Mainland Constituency 2) and Hon. Kazeem Raheem Adewale (Ibeji Lekki Constituency 2), were also suspended indefinitely during plenary on Monday.
Announcing the suspension of the members, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa stated that the House is the hope of the people and the heartbeat of democracy and as such, it should be well guided.
He said, “I hereby invoke Section 68 and Section 70 4 (a, b) 2 and 3 of the House rules in respect of gross misconduct, insubordination and action that can destablise this House, I hereby move that Hon. Moshood Oshun and Hon. Raheem Adewale be placed on suspension indefinitely.”
The two decisions were supported through voice votes by the members present during plenary.
The request for the removal of the two principal was contained in a letter read on the floor of the House by the Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni.
Sanni stated that the 26 members who signed the letter wished to notify the House “to change the leadership of the House, including, Hon. Rotimi Abiru as the Chief Whip and Deputy Majority, Hon. Olumuyiwa Jimoh.”
The removal of the principal officers and suspension of the two members came amidst speculation that there were critical issues that could divide the House and “that more revelations might come in the coming days.”
Meanwhile, the House has announced the death of Mr. Debo Adegbesan, a Principal Legislative Officer on Grade Level 12, who died in the early hours of Monday 9th March, 2020 at the age of 37 years.
