IBRAHIM QUADRI
Barring any last minute change of minds, the impeachment threat being proposed by the Lagos State House of Assembly against the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode may not hold after all.
The resolution to shelve the planned impeachment was reached after a meeting with the leadership of both the executive and legislative arms with the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu together with some other party leaders in the state.
This was part of the feelers from the state Special Governor’s Advisory Committee (GAC) meeting that was held on Sunday in Marina, Lagos to resolve the conflict between Gov. Ambode and Lagos State House of Assembly.
The GAC meeting was attended, among others, by APC national leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, Lagos central Senatorial Leader, Prince Tajudeen Olusi, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, his deputy, Dr. (Mrs) Idiat Adebule, House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, his Deputy, Hon. Wasiu Esinlokun.
The House had on Monday January 29 sjummoned the state Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode to appear before it within one week over the 2019 budget, saying failure to comply may warrant an impeachment motion to be moved.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa told the lawmakers that it was important to give the Governor a fair hearing over the issue involving the Governor and the 2019 Budget.
Obasa stated that there have been violation of the constitution and infractions on the part of the Governor.
“The Attorney General, Finance Commissioner and Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning that ought to have advised the Governor did not do so.
“The most important thing is that we should let the people know that a budget that was yet to be approved was being spent, which was why we could not attend to the Governor on the budget on Monday 21, January. We must give them a fair hearing to come and explain what happened.
“The point has been made that there must be something before the House before you can commence expenditure. We want to call on the Governor to come within a week to explain himself.
“We can start gathering signatures for impeachment. We can exercise patience and wait till another time,” he said.
Sources disclosed that Tinubu had declared after the meeting, “We held a meeting on behalf of entire Lagosians. In the last one week or so, there has been some talks about a conflict between the Executive and the Legislature in Lagos. This is of great concern to us. We looked at the source of the conflict, which is normal in a democracy, and that is why there are also conflict-resolution mechanisms.
” We examined the grievances on both sides. As leaders, we also looked into areas where there has to be compromise. In order to build institutions and encourage consensus-building, we have to do what is right. There is no impeachment. Let there be more communication and consensus-building and understanding. All these are inbuilt in the democratic system.
“We thank the Speaker and the leadership of the House. We thank the Governor and the Deputy Governor. They have all demonstrated respect for the party leadership in Lagos. You know when Lagos sneezes, other areas catch cold. We are happy that we are able to resolve the conflict and things will start moving well going forward,” Tinubu said.
Also speaking, Prince Tajudeen Olusi who is a leader in the Lagos Central Zone said the grey areas between the two arms of government have been resolved, adding that both the executive and the legislature would work together in the interest of Lagosins.
In his words, “APC leader has spoken. This is just to further confirm the decisions that we reached. Conflict is an institutional part of the governance. the Executive/Legislature must work together. We have reached a decision that they must work together amicably. And very soon, both the Legislature and the Executive must resolve the grey areas in their relationship.”
