The Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Chief Mudashiru Obasa, has cautioned former local government and local council development area (LCDA) chairmen against interfering in the affairs of their successors.
Obasa gave the warning during a meeting with newly elected council chairmen at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium in the Assembly Complex, the second such gathering in one month.
He expressed concern that some immediate past chairmen were still exerting influence by allegedly signing cheques in collusion with council treasurers and managers.
“How can you be answerable to your predecessors?” the Speaker queried.
“What you owe them is honour, not control.
They have done their bit, and everybody is grateful.You are the ones in the saddle now, take charge.
”Obasa urged the new chairmen to assert their independence and prove to the public that they are capable leaders.
“Let the new chairmen breathe. Let people see that there are new sheriffs in town.
Don’t take their shine. Remove your grip on their necks,” he said.
The Speaker also faulted the practice of pressuring successors to begin servicing loans immediately without proper scrutiny.
He advised the chairmen to review loan records, demand accountability, and renegotiate terms where necessary to protect council resources.
“Four years is not a long time in politics.
If the public does not see your impact in four months, you have already created a wrong impression,” he added.
On a broader note, Obasa raised concerns about the rising spate of deaths among council officials across the state.
He urged the chairmen to prioritize regular health checks and ensure the welfare of their constituents remained central to their administration.
Written by Olusegun Haastrup