Politics
“Let new chairmen breathe”… Obasa warns ex-LG chairmen against wielding undue influence on successors.
“Let new chairmen breathe”… Obasa warns ex-LG chairmen against wielding undue influence on successors.
…As the Assembly celebrates Mrs Remi Tinubu at 65
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa has warned the immediate past chairmen of local governments and local council development areas in the state to release their stranglehold on their successors and allow them to work unencumbered.
The Speaker issued this warning at a meeting with newly elected chairmen (the second in one month) held inside the Lateef Jakande auditorium of the Assembly Complex on Tuesday, September 23. Speaker Obasa did not hold back in his outright condemnation of the immediate past chairmen who are reportedly still exerting undue influence on their successors. In the worst cases, according to him, many of them are still signing cheques in collusion with council treasurers and managers.
Obasa asked the new chairmen pointedly, “How can you be answerable to your predecessors? What you owe them is honour, not to allow them to control you. They have done their bit, and everybody is grateful; you are the ones in the saddle now. So, take charge.”
Sounding a note of warning to the overbearing past chairmen in absentia, Obasa said, “Let the new chairmen breathe. Let the public see that there are new sheriffs in town and that they are doing a good job. Let their work show. Don’t take their shine. Remove your grip on their necks.” The Speaker frowned at the ex-chairmen for mounting pressure on their incumbents to start paying for loans while in office, without giving them any room for due diligence or to settle down.
He warned, “Before you start paying loans, ask questions. Where you are unsure of what the loan was used for, ask questions and look through the books. If you can renegotiate or restructure the terms of the loans, do so for the betterment of your constituents.”
Further, the Speaker said, “Four years is not a long time in politics. So, if the public does not see what you are doing in four months (of being in office), you have created a wrong impression. As politicians, we manage so many interests, but it should not be at the detriment of the council and the people.” Then, he harped on the spate of deaths in councils across the state, saying that this was the first time such a thing was happening in the state and that it did not bode well for the party. He reminded his guests of the importance of taking their health seriously by doing periodic checks and admonished them to ensure they prioritise the well-being of their people.
Earlier in the day at plenary, members of the House of Assembly took turns to celebrate the First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who marked her 65th birthday on Sunday, September 21. Hon. Oladipo Ajomale (Oshodi/Isolo Constituency II) started the plethora of plaudits and paeans. He described Senator Oluremi as a mother who has done so well for the nation, commended her for making life better for Nigerians, especially the underprivileged, and wished her great health and a long life.
Hon. Stephen Ogundipe (Oshodi Constituency 1) recalled that he was privileged to work with her during the second term of then-Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu and highlighted her loyalty and steadfast support for the President. He commended her selfless service to humanity, stating, “She is not just a pillar behind the President, but a woman whose actions reflect her genuine desire to uplift lives.”
Princess Lara Oyekan-Olumegbon (Lagos Island Constituency 1) said that Mrs Tinubu is worthy of celebration for her empowerment initiatives. She prayed, “On behalf of all the White Cap Chiefs of Lagos and my constituents, we pray that God will continue to guide her to be a worthy partner to our father. Other members also recognised the First Lady’s lifelong contributions to national development, humanitarian causes, and exemplary public service. They extolled her distinguished service as a Senator and her continued advocacy for the marginalised, the less privileged, and vulnerable in society, describing her as “the most impactful senator in Nigeria’s recent history.”
The Deputy Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, also noted that Senator Oluremi Tinubu is the “mother of the nation”. She prayed for her to finish well just as she had started well. Speaker Obasa, who presided over the session, thanked his colleagues for their eulogies, concurring that indeed, the ‘Birthday Girl’ was exceptional as a first lady. He noted that, unlike other First Ladies who would have discarded their successor’s pet project in favour of theirs, Mrs Tinubu, as First Lady of Lagos State, sustained the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) initiative, which has continued to impact lives meaningfully across the state and beyond.
“She is a woman with so many qualities. As a Senator, she served her senatorial district with passion, dedication, high commitment, and loyalty, which no one has been able to do. We congratulate her and pray that the Almighty will continue to be with her.” The Speaker asked the clerk to send the First Lady a congratulatory letter.
Speaker Obasa Felicitates Remi Tinubu at 65, Hails ‘Renewed Hope Initiative’ Impact
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr) Mudashiru Obasa has congratulated Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, OON, CON, on her 65th birthday.
He described her as the ‘Mother of the Nation’ who has given so much of herself to the betterment of humanity and Nigeria through her boundless philanthropy and political stewardship.
In a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Dave Agboola, Obasa acknowledged and appreciated Mrs. Tinubu’s selfless and generous services and sacrifices since her reign as the First Lady of Lagos State, during which her life-changing initiatives impacted many lives, especially the youth, women, and vulnerable people. He also commended her robust stewardship as a three-term Senator, and now as the First Lady of Nigeria.
The Speaker described Mrs Tinubu as “a pivotal force, inestimable cheerleader, and foremost partner of our beloved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, in his mission to enthrone a more prosperous and progressive Nigeria through the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Like the New Era Foundation established when she was the First Lady of Lagos State, Obasa stated that Sen. Tinubu is making life better for many Nigerians through the Renewed Hope Initiative, which aims to lift individuals out of poverty through education, empowerment, and compassionate support.
Describing the Renewed Hope Initiative as ‘significantly impactful’, Obasa noted, “Her work is not just about policies; it’s about touching lives and bringing about real, tangible change in our society. Her commitment to the welfare of the Nigerian people is unparalleled.”
He added that the Renewed Hope Initiative has transcended its local beginnings, blossoming into a nationwide movement that addresses pressing issues and instills a renewed sense of hope.
“As we celebrate Sen. Oluremi Tinubu’s contributions to nation-building, we look forward to the future she is helping to create – one marked by progress, prosperity, and unity.
“History will be kind to her for her steadfast dedication and unparalleled passion for the welfare of the Nigerian people, and for the empathy, grace, and resilience with which she does them,” Speaker Obasa concluded.
Politics
How Governor Aiyedatiwa Dismantled Multiple Legal Obstacles and Triumphed at the Supreme Court
How Governor Aiyedatiwa Dismantled Multiple Legal Obstacles and Triumphed at the Supreme Court
By Allen Sowore, Esq.
Before he emerged as Acting Governor—and subsequently Governor—following the unfortunate death of Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, SAN, CON, on 27th December 2023, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa faced a series of legal battles. Many of these were attempts either to challenge his position or to halt the planned impeachment against him.
As the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election approached and Governor Aiyedatiwa declared his interest to contest, the legal onslaught intensified. Fresh cases arose, particularly challenging the outcome of the All Progressives Congress, APC’s primary election and questioning the eligibility of his deputy governorship candidate, Dr.Olayide Adelami.
Despite securing a resounding victory at the polls—where he polled over 366,000 votes to defeat his closest rival, former Deputy Governor Agboola Ajayi of the PDP, who garnered 117,000 votes, alongside 15 other contestants—post-election petitions flooded the 2024 Ondo State Governorship Election Tribunal sitting in Akure. These petitions sought to upturn what was widely acknowledged as a free, fair, and credible election.
Determined to defend his mandate, Governor Aiyedatiwa, through the State Attorney General, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, CON, assembled a formidable legal team. The team featured some of Nigeria’s finest legal minds, including Chief Wole Olanipekun, SAN; Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN; Olusola Oke, SAN; Professor Abdukarim Kana; Hakeem Afolabi, SAN; Abdul-Kadir Olajide Ajana, SAN; Tayo Oyetibo, SAN; Yinka Orokoto; Abiola Olawole; Adelanke Akinrata; and Dr. A. K. Adewusi, among others.
Remarkably, Governor Aiyedatiwa did not lose a single case—whether at the State High Court, Federal High Court, the Tribunal, or the Court of Appeal.
On 17th September 2025, the Supreme Court finally laid all controversies to rest. A panel comprising Justices John Inyang Okoro, Emmanuel Agim, Moore Adumein, Stephen Adah, and Mohammed Idris unanimously dismissed the three pending appeals against Governor Aiyedatiwa’s victory after the appellants, sensing imminent and overwhelming defeat, voluntarily withdrew their cases.
First, the appeal filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Chief Agboola Ajayi, was dismissed following their notice of discontinuance.
Second, the appeal filed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and its candidate, the late Otunba Akingboye Benson Bamidele, was struck out after their counsel, Aderemi Abimbola, applied for withdrawal in view of the appellant’s demise.
Before adjourning, the Honourable Justices sternly reprimanded some of the lawyers for bringing frivolous appeals, cautioning that the Supreme Court is a busy and serious institution that must not be burdened with trivial litigation.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, who was present in court as always, gallantly walked out of the courtroom alongside the Ondo State APC Chairman, Engr. Ade Adetimehin and other party leaders were visibly grateful to God Almighty, the Nigerian judiciary, and their legal team.
Addressing the press, the Governor dedicated his victory to the people of Ondo State and pledged to work even harder to build a greater state. The Supreme Court’s pronouncement of 17th September 2025 thus marks the end of a long season of legal battles and the ultimate triumph of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa.
Ajadi celebrates as Kehinde Teluwo clocks a new age
The Ogun State 2023 governorship candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP), Olufemi Ajadi Oguntoyinbo, has extended warm birthday wishes to the NNPP Ogun Central Senatorial Candidate in the 2023 elections, Hon. Kehinde Teluwo, who marks his birthday today, Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Ajadi, in a goodwill message made available to journalists, described Teluwo as “a loyal party man, a grassroots mobilizer, and a visionary leader whose commitment to the ideals of the NNPP has continued to inspire hope among party faithful and the people of Ogun State.”
He added that Teluwo’s dedication to service and his resilience in politics have distinguished him as one of the pillars of the NNPP in Ogun State and beyond.
On behalf of myself, my family, and the NNPP family in Ogun State and the Southwest, I heartily congratulate Hon. Kehinde Teluwo on the occasion of his birthday. He is a man of integrity and passion who has remained steadfast in our collective struggle for a better Ogun State and a greater Nigeria. His leadership qualities, courage, and unwavering faith in democracy are worthy of emulation,” Ajadi stated.
Ajadi further urged Teluwo to remain resolute in his pursuit of justice, fairness, and people-oriented governance, assuring him of continued collaboration in promoting good leadership and strengthening the NNPP across the region.
He also prayed for God’s blessings on the celebrant, wishing him good health, long life, and greater accomplishments in his political and personal endeavors.
Ajadi reiterated his message by affirming that leaders like Teluwo represent the future of inclusive governance and the hope for Nigeria’s democratic renewal.
Teluwo, a respected politician and businessman, contested for the Ogun Central Senatorial seat under the NNPP banner in the 2023 elections. He has remained active in community development initiatives and party-building efforts in the state.
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