Lagos Assembly: Setonji, Rauf’s name emerge as Meranda’s resignation talk still rife

After the intervention of party leaders, there is speculation the Speaker of Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Lasbat Meranda may resign her position, paving way for either David Setonji or Wale Rauf.

It was gathered that over the weekend, the former All Progressives Congress (APC) national chairman Bisi Akande, former Ogun State governor Olusegun Osoba, and Pius Akinyelure, Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and members of the Governor Advisory Council (GAC) met, with principal officers in the Assembly,urging Meranda to step down and return to her former position as Deputy Speaker.

Reason behind the appeal for Meranda to resign is for regional representation in State Leadership.

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Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and Speaker Meranda are both from Lagos Central, leaving Lagos West without any top leadership position.

Given that the embattled and impeached former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa hails from Lagos West, stakeholders have recommended that the next Speaker be chosen from the district.

This gives room for either Setonji and Rauf to fill the vacuum.

Setonji is currently the Chief Whip of the House and has served as a lawmaker since 2015. Rauf has been in the House since 2019.

This development has, however, led to division among the Lawmakers who last week had 36 out 40 of them had declared their loyalty and support for Meranda

The discussion was said to have ended in a deadlock over the weekend, with another meeting scheduled for this week.

It would be recalled that the rumour of Miranda’s would be resignation was at the front burner last week, but she vehemently denied the news, saying that at no time had she contemplated resigning from her position.