The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, has reportedly berated the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, over the contentious 2024 Lagos State Local Council Administration Law sent to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for assent.
Visibly upset, President Tinubu questioned Obasa’s qualifications to draft laws that could destabilize the political harmony in Lagos State. He repeatedly scolded the Speaker for his perceived individualistic approach to state matters and his confrontational stance toward the state executive, the party, and its elders.
A stunned Obasa was reportedly left speechless as Tinubu lambasted him for his alleged political misconduct and defiance toward the party, its leaders, and the governor. The President emphasized that matters concerning local government laws were beyond Obasa and the House of Assembly at this stage. Tinubu directed the Speaker to align with Governor Sanwo-Olu's directives, particularly regarding the screening, approval, and confirmation of board members for the Lagos State Independent Electoral Commission (LASIEC).
Obasa was further instructed to comply with other instructions that would be communicated to him in the future.
The incident comes after Obasa, during the Lagos State 2025 budget presentation, boasted that no serving or former Lagos State governor was better qualified than him to oversee the state, which boasts the fourth-largest economy in Africa. His assertion, seen as a direct indictment of President Tinubu, who governed Lagos from 1999 to 2007, also highlighted his ambition to run for Lagos State Governor in 2027.
The controversial 2024 Local Government Administration Law has been widely criticized as a tool for Obasa to install his loyalists as administrative secretaries in the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs). This move is viewed as part of his 2027 gubernatorial agenda, branded as the "Muda Eko, Obasa Lagos 2027 Agenda" under The Mudashiru Movement (TMM). The proposal has reportedly caused divisions within the APC in Lagos State.
OBASA'S LOSS, BISI YUSUF'S PUPPETRY: A STORY OF DESPERATION FOR POWER
.... "Orelope Adefulire, Enilolobo not competent to run Alimosho APC" - Bisi Yusuf
..... "Let us hear from Orelope Adefulire, Enilolobo" - Mr President
Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa's unchecked gubernatorial ambitions and repeated acts of rudeness toward perceived opponents, particularly His Excellency Mr. Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, the Governor of Lagos State, have alienated him from stakeholders within the Lagos State All Progressives Congress (APC). This behavior earned him a stern reprimand from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and has now culminated in his delegation of Bisi Yusuf to represent him at meetings, a move that has not been well-received by his colleagues in the 40-member Lagos State House of Assembly, where he serves as Speaker.
During a meeting with President Tinubu, Governor Sanwo-Olu, Deputy Governor Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat, the Chairman and Secretary of Conference 57, and members of the House of Assembly, Obasa assigned the Speaker's protocol privileges to Bisi Yusuf. Yusuf, a former House of Assembly member and key figure in The Mudashiru Movement promoting the "Muda Eko, Obasa Lagos 2027" agenda, used this opportunity to assert his presence.
Bisi Yusuf, who resides in the Lekki axis of Lagos State, reportedly leveraged these privileges with the assistance of Mr. President's aide, and observed Jummat service with Mr. President. The main agenda of the meeting centred on the 2025 Lagos State local government elections. However, Yusuf disrupted the discussion by maligning H.E. Hon. Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire OON, claiming she lacked the leadership skills to unify the Alimosho Federal Constituency, "Joke that cannot win her ward, is not deserving of leadership. . This remark was deemed irrelevant, as the discussion focused on the legal framework for the election and the status of the 37 Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) in the state.
Our sources indicate that Yusuf used the platform to distance himself from Ogbeni Rauf Adesoji Aregbesola, the former Minister of Interior, under whose leadership in the Alimosho Federal Constituency he rose to prominence. Yusuf, who previously served as Party Secretary, Council Chairman, and House of Assembly member over seven consecutive terms spanning 24 years, claimed that Abdullahi Ayinde Enilolobo remains closely allied with Aregbesola, describing their relationship as inseparable.
Yusuf also lobbied to take over the leadership of the APC in the Alimosho Federal Constituency, calling for the abolition of the 55:45 power-sharing formula between the Justice Forum led by Orelope-Adefulire and The Mandate Movement led by Enilolobo. He argued that this change would allow him to reconfigure the constituency to serve the President’s interests.
He further expressed displeasure over the recognition of Enilolobo as the APC leader in the Alimosho Federal Constituency. Citing the governor's recent visit to commission road networks and bridges, Yusuf noted that Enilolobo was given a singular recognition seat during the event, prompting Governor Sanwo-Olu to respond, "Only one seat? Please, Sir, adopt clarity and honesty in your allegations."
Yusuf then proposed Abiodun Ishola Ejigbadero as the potential coordinator of the constituency. This prompted a close ally to the president interjected, exclaiming, "Ejigbadero what?" as he subsequently urged President Tinubu to grant an audience to Orelope-Adefulire and Enilolobo to present their perspectives, rather than relying solely on Yusuf's statements regarding constituency matters.
