With the conduct of elections into Lagos State House of Assembly, OLAJIDE OMOJOLOMOJU takes a look at 14 ranking lawmakers making a return to the House Assembly ahead of the Lagos State 9th Assembly and how they may shape legislative activities in the incoming Assembly
The 2019 general elections have come and gone, and the winners and losers had been known by the electorate who voted for or against their choice candidates and parties for the Lagos State House of Assembly.
It is a known fact that over 500 candidates flying the flags of different political parties eyed the 40 seats in the state’s House of Assembly.
The interesting thing, however, this time around is that unlike in 2015 when eight Peoples Democratic Party candidates made it for the first time to the hallowed chamber as elected lawmakers, the ruling All Progressives Congress clinched all the 40 seats available in the Lagos State House of Assembly.
Also, of interest is that of the elected lawmakers, 14 are returning either for the third, fourth or even fifth term and it is not in doubt that these ranking lawmakers would definitely shape and influence the legislative and administrative activities of the 9th House of Assembly, which is expected to roar into life in June.
Political analysts have argued that the legislative experience, wisdom and acumen which the 14 ranking lawmakers had garnered so far since their days in the House would position them ahead of their colleagues who are coming in for the first time.
Some of these high ranking lawmakers had also in the past severally headed House standing as well as adhoc committees, thus giving them experience, both legislatively and administratively as well as in oversight functions.
Their experience over the years has also made them to be familiar with the lobby system, constitutional guidelines, standing orders and other relevant principles of the legislative business, including the politics surronding the selection of key principal officers and heads of standing committees.
Of the lot, the highest ranking of the lawmakers is the incumbent Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, who was first elected into the Lagos State House of Assembly in 2003.
He had earlier been elected a councillor in Agege Local Government Area between 1999 and 2002, under the platform of the Alliance for Democracy.
He was earlier before then in politics, during the Third Republic when he served as a member of the executive of his ward.
In the build-up to the primary election in 2003, Obasa faced a very tough political battle from some leaders of the defunct Action Congress in his ward. He narrowly emerged at the primaries election conducted at Airport Hotel, Ikeja, in the presence of the National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who was then the governor of the state.
Before he became the Speaker, Obasa, had headed committees like the Budget and Economic Planning Committee and Public Accounts (Local government) Committee. He had also been member of various committees like Transport, Housing, Lands, and Environment.
Obasa is making a return to the Assembly for the fifth time, representing Agege state constituency 1 of the state and every indication points to his emerging the Speaker again in the 9th Assembly. Analysts are, however, cautioning that it may be too early to conclude that he would be retaining the speakership.
The next ranking lawmaker is the majority leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade, who has been representing Ikorodu state constituency 1 since he was first elected into the house in 2007.
Agunbiade, a Law graduate of the Lagos State University, became a principal officer in 2015, following the power play during the process of electing the Speaker.
Popularly called ‘Opomulero’, Agunbiade was the chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary and Public Petition in the seventh Assembly.
And Agunbiade is making a return to the House for the fourth time.
Watchers of political events in the state have opined that he may be one of those tipped to replace Obasa, in case the APC leadership throws the 9th Assembly speakership election open.
Another key ranking lawmaker, who is making a return to the House, is the Deputy Speaker of the House, Wasiu Sanni Eshinlokun, who is making a third appearance in the House.
Eshinlokun’s political strength among party leadership cannot be overemphasized, considering that aside being one of the lawmakers who was elected into the Lagos State House of Assembly immediately the present political dispensation began in 1999.
He first came to the House, representing Lagos Island state constituency 1, under the banner of AD and was in the Assembly just for a term, 1999 to 2003, after which he was elected as the chairman of Lagos Island Local Government between 2007 and 2014.
His influence in the local government and within the party earned him the state secretary ship of the defunct ACN. He was also a Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Legislative and Political Matters.
He made a return to the House in 2015.
A known strategist, Eshinlokun, a third termer, who has his loyalists in the hallowed chamber, is one of those lawmakers tipped to give Obasa a good fight for the House speakership in June, unless party leadership decides otherwise.
Another key player in the House of Assembly, who runs things without being noticed and who is returning to the House a third time is the Deputy Majority Leader, Olumuyiwa Jimoh Wahab.
Wahab was elected into the House for the first time in 2011 but he was able to cope with the politics of the House, to emerge Deputy Majority Leader in 2015, when he was re-elected for the second term. Those close to him attested to his understanding of the intrigues of power in the House.
LEADERSHIP Weekend gathered that he will continually enjoy the support of the power that-be in the House of Assembly and from all indications, Wahab may either retain his current position in the 9th Assembly, or even move higher, as checks revealed that he still belongs to the caucus which determines who gets what in the House.
He made a third return to the House, representing Apapa state constituency 2 and he is one of the lawmakers to watch out for in hallowed chamber of the 9th state Assembly.
Another ranking lawmaker in the House is Rotimi Lateef Abiru, the current Chief Whip of the House of Assembly, who was just re-elected for a fourth term in the last elections to represent Somolu state constituency 2.
Abiru, who is hardly seen relating with his colleagues unless at plenary, is described a sanguine legislator, who only acts when it is necessary. He is sure to be a major player in the business of the 9th Assembly.
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Another vibrant returning lawmaker, who should be watched out for is fourth termer Moshood Oshun, who represents Lagos Mainland 2 state constituency. Oshun, who has been in the Assembly since 2007. He is one of the lawmakers who slugged it out with Obasa for the House speakership in 2015.
Young, articulate and intelligent enough to make himself relevant among his senior colleagues in the 9th Assembly, Oshun had headed standing committees like Obasa before now. He is the chairman, Public Accounts Committee of the House.
Other ranking lawmakers returning to the House include:
Rotimi Olowo
Olowo is described as an energetic lawmaker who blends his professional experience as a financial expert with legislative experience in making contribution the floor of the House during debates.
Another fourth termer, representing Somolu state constituency 1, Olowo had chaired several committees of the House, one of which was the House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, before relinquishing same to Hon Gbolahan Yishawu, when the leadership of the House reshuffled the heads of the standing committees.
Popularly called the ‘People’s Lawmaker’, Olowo’s contributions during debates at plenary are always in line with the core issues at hand, reflecting the interest of his people.
He definitely is another lawmaker to be watched out for in the incoming 9th Assembly.
Gbolahon Yishawu
Yishawu, described as the ‘smiling lawmaker’, even when faced with serious challenges, is a young, intelligent and brilliant lawmaker, whose contributions during plenary session are always academic in nature and practicable. As the chairman of House Committee on Infrastructure and Waterfront, his performance is yet to be surpassed. And as the current chairman, House Committee on Budget and Economic Planning, Yishawu has been able to harmonise the various budget proposals of all committees to meet up with the expected standard.
Representing Eti-Osa state constituency 2, where the National Leader of the APC, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, resides, Yishawu’s analytical approach to issues during debates shows that he was always prepared and researched issues before coming into the chamber for legislative business. He sure does have a brighter future in Lagos politics and he is a man to watch out for among his peers in the 9th Assembly.
Olanrewaju Ibrahim Layode
Layode, popularly known as OIL was first elected into the House of Assembly in 2007 and he has since then been a major player in the activities of the House.
He knows how to play his political game among his peers when it comes to legislative politics in the House, just as he belongs to the inner caucus which determines who gets what. Many analysts have described him as a lawmaker who understands the intrigues of power-play in the House and so, he may be favoured to head juicy standing committee in the 9th Assembly.
Media Library Presently, the chairman of the House Committee on Housing, Layode is perceived to be a strong loyalist of the current Speaker of the House, Obasa and represents Badagry state constituency 1.
Returning to the House for the fourth time, Layode, who is not known to frontally contribute to issues that are not of concern to his constituency, strategically ensures that his constituency’s interests are not overruled.
His long serving experience in the House of Assembly is expected to rub off on issues of concern to Badagry people and Lagos at large.
Adebisi Yusuff
Yusuff, who was chairman of Ayobo Ipaja Local Council Development Authority before he was elected into the House of Assembly in 2011, takes no time to switch from the executive to the legislature, playing different roles at different periods, always making meaningful contributions to debates at plenary, even most times with humour.
Representing Alimoso state constituency 1, Yusuff, popularly called ‘Sheu’, has chaired several standing committees, including Transport, Commerce and Industry, Local Government, and Public Account (Local) and is returning to the House for a fourth time.
He remains one of the most ranking lawmakers to watch out for in the 9th Assembly as he would not only influence things in the House, but also benefits from any power-play that may come up in the struggle for the speakership of the 9th Assembly.
But for now, he is member of House Speaker’s kitchen cabinet.
Mojeed Fatai Adebola
A politician who has held several political positions at the grassroots level before his election into the House in 2011 to represent Ibeju Lekki state constituency 1, Adebola is a quiet, gentle and careful man who hardly mingles with his peers except during plenary, ostensibly to escape being washed away by the turbulent waters of politics and to remain in the good book of those who decides who gets what in the House.
He is a financial expert who likes contributing to issues bordering on finance, commerce and industry. He is likely to make waves in the incoming 9th Assembly as a ranking lawmaker.
Oluyinka Ogundimu
Ogundimu, who represents Agege state constituency 2 is another lawmaker who may exert extensive dominance in the 9th Assembly, as a result of his close affinity with the Speaker, Obasa.
He is more or less the eye of the current Speaker of the House, and he is known to always go the way of the Speaker on any issue during plenary, as if he had had pre-plenary discussion with the Speaker on issues to be debated.
Said to be academically sound, brilliant, smart and understands the power of figures in financial analysis, he marshals his points properly such that listeners would get the gist of his contributions at plenary.
A third timer, Ogundimu has been enjoying the favour of any leadership of the House that emerges and his constituents.
He is currently the chairman, House Committee on Finance and analysts think he would not only be a major player in the 9th Assembly, but may retain his chairmanship of the Finance Committee.
Kazeem Raheem Adewale
Adewale is also making a return to the House for the third time having being first elected in 2011. He is expected to up his legislative activities and game to prove that the experience he has garnered over the years as a ranking lawmaker is not wasted. He represents Ibeju Lekki state constituency 2
