You shouldn’t have resigned; you betrayed Lagosians, Doherty tells Meranda

Funso Doherty, a governorship candidate in the last Lagos election, has strongly criticised the recent leadership crisis in the Lagos State House of Assembly, describing the lawmakers’ handling of the situation as a “betrayal” of public trust.

In a statement issued on Monday, March 3, Doherty condemned the intervention of the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership, which led to the resignation of Mojisola Meranda as speaker and the reinstatement of Mudashiru Obasa.

Doherty did not mince words in his rebuke of the assembly members, arguing that their reversal of Obasa’s impeachment showed they had failed in their duty to represent Lagosians.

“The recent dramatic reversal of that decision under pressure from the APC leadership will not go unnoticed. It stands as a betrayal of the trust reposed in you by the electorate and a submission to vested interests over the democratic will of the people,” he wrote.

Read also: Desmond Elliot in tears as Meranda resigns as Lagos Assembly speaker

Addressing Meranda directly, Doherty expressed disappointment over her decision to step down despite securing the support of the majority of lawmakers when she was initially installed as Speaker.

“Your mandate was clear. Your peers chose you, by a margin well beyond the constitutional requirement, to lead as the first female Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. This was not just about a political appointment; it was a defining moment of historical significance and a test of democratic integrity and representation,” the opposition candidate said.

He urged her to have resisted external pressure, stating, “For the sake of democracy, for the people of Lagos, and for women everywhere, you should have stood firm. Lagosians stood with you. Sadly, painfully, and regrettably, you chose to resign.”

Doherty also took aim at the Governance Advisory Council (GAC), the highest decision making body in the Lagos APC, which played a major role in brokering the deal that reinstated Obasa. He accused the group of undermining democracy by interfering in the decisions of elected lawmakers.

“You insisted on opposing the democratic will of the people by opposing the decisions of their elected representatives, and there will be consequences,” he warned.

The statement further emphasised the need for Lagosians to remain vigilant in governance and elections to prevent political manipulations.

“We must remain vigilant and intentional in electing strong leaders who will truly serve our collective interests in good faith and not operate as agents of others,” Doherty stated.

Doherty’s statement urged Lagosians to learn from the crisis and ensure such political manoeuvres do not repeat in the future. “This crisis may pass, but it must not be in vain. Let us take its lessons to heart and ensure we do not repeat its mistakes.”