By Jude Opara, Abuja
Following the crisis that rocking the Lagos State House of Assembly, the All ProgressivesCongress (APC) States Assembly Forum (ASAF) has called on the security agencies to safeguard the state’s legislative arm by protecting the new Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda and her office.
Rising from its 35th Congress yesterday , the ASAF also called for caution, even as it called on the members of the Assembly to ensure that they put their constituents first in their lawmaking processes, stressing that what Nigerians truly need now is dividends of democracy, and not leadership struggle.
However in a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the APC group congratulated the new Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Meranda on her appointment even as it pledged total support to her to move the Assembly to greater heights.
The communique which was signed by its Director General, Amb. Fubara Dagogo, described the appointment of Hon. Meranda as a step in the right direction, and also commended the Lagos State House of Assembly for taking the jinx breaking decision, which has made her the first female Speaker in the state.
Dagogo described the Speaker as a true democrat who joined ASAF in the fight for the much deserved legislative autonomy.
Meanwhile , the APC group has called on President Bola Tinubu to brace up and arrest the crisis situation in his state, adding that the decision of the over 34 members of the Assembly should be upheld, so as the Lagos State Assembly must not be set on fire over leadership crisis.
It noted that the forum at the congress, agreed to pay a solidarity visit to the new Speaker, adding that it has already commenced preparations for the visit, where it will also submit a position paper to the Assembly on driving home the dividends of democracy as well as express appreciation of her full commitment to the autonomy of the legislature.
“We commend the position of the Lagos State Assembly on the appointment of Hon. Mojisola Meranda as the new Speaker. The appointment for those of us who have followed the footsteps of Hon. Meranda is a commendable decision. She has remained at the forefront of our desired fight for legislative autonomy.
“We urge all that are concerned to give her the massive support because we are convinced that she will deliver perfectly and expectedly. She has a good track record as a lawmaker and we have followed her footsteps diligently and are convinced that as the new Speaker, all she requires is the total support of members to move the Assembly out of its current crisis.
“We therefore urge President Bola Tinubu, who is the father of the nation and Lagos State in particular to prevail on all members of the Assembly to give peace a chance and allow Hon. Meranda to carry out her legislative role as Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly”.
Similarly, the ASAF appreciated it’s leadership, in particular the Director General, Amb. Fubara Dagogo, with a vote of confidence, even as it called for continued efforts in promoting the APC state Assemblies.
It further noted that the forum has contributed a lot in actualizing the dividends of democracy, through it advocacy and constantly reminding lawmakers on the need to always make life easier for members of their various constituencies.
