By Newsmata
The Office of the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mojisola Meranda, has described as an alarming and dangerous development in the state’s political landscape, the sudden withdrawal of security aides assigned to the Speaker and the Assembly complex.
Condemning the development in a statement on Thursday, Victor Ganzallo, Special Adviser on Information to the Speaker, said the move was an unprecedented act with serious implications for governance and security.
The statement, titled, “Hostile Takeover: Police Withdrawal from Lagos House of Assembly and Intimidation of Speaker Mojisola Meranda Signals a Dangerous Shift in Lagos Political Dynamics,” raised concerns over the motivation behind the action.
Ganzallo said, “Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda was duly elected by her colleagues, and her leadership was reinforced with a strong vote of confidence. The timing of the security withdrawal, coupled with the hostile actions of the former Speaker and his associates, raises serious questions. Is this politically motivated, or part of a larger strategy to destabilise the current administration?”
Meranda’s aide suggested that the gender dynamics in politics could be a factor, querying, “Could this act of aggression reflect deep-seated bias against female leadership? Is Rt. Hon. Meranda’s position as a woman Speaker being used to justify such intimidation and disruption?”
Linking the development to an ongoing internal power struggle following the removal of the former Speaker, Ganzallo argued that it was a calculated move to weaken Meranda’s leadership and create instability.
“We demand an immediate clarification from both the police and the state government on their roles in this matter. The absence of security for top officials raises serious concerns about the safety of public officeholders in Lagos. If such intimidation can occur at the highest levels, what protection exists for ordinary citizens?” he stated.
The Speaker’s office has called for a full investigation and accountability from all involved parties, stressing that such actions must not go unchallenged.