Report: How Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, Survived Plot To Replace Him

A report on Daily Trust has chronicled how the deputy speaker of the house of representatives, Hon. Yusuf Lasun survived plots by some political forces to displace him weeks after he emerged the number 2 man in the lower house of the national assembly. 

Lasun who represents Irepodun/Olorunda/Orolu/Osogbo federal constituency of Osun state had earlier set his sights on the speakership position, but sacrificed his ambition for the current majority leader of the house, Femi Gbajabiamila, who was a popular contender for the seat at the time.

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But in a twist that validates Lasun’s political prowess, the deputy speaker indicated his interest in the deputy speakership position two days before the inauguration and election of principal officers in the house, sensing that the odds may favour current speaker, Yakubu Dogara.

His position was unveiled at a news conference at Bolingo Hotel, Abuja by loyalists of Dogara, who found a willing ally in Lasun.On the day of the election,  Lasun won the deputy speaker’s seat by 203-153, defeating Hon. Tahir Monguno from Borno state.

They hinged their resistance on the fact that Monguno came from the same region with Dogara and at the end of the day, Lasun polled 203 votes to defeat Monguno who scored 153 votes.

Few weeks after he was elected as deputy speaker, Lasun came under pressure from some All Progressives Congress lawmakers in the South-West region, to resign his position and pave the way for Gbajabiamila, who the party had endorsed to be the Speaker earlier.

Their thinking was that the emergence of Gbajabiamila will resolve the leadership crisis in the house which started immediately after the elections.

READ ALSO: Dogara Camp In Fierce Battle With Gbajabiamila’s Camp

Intervening, the APC National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and Osun state governor. Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola met with Lasun behind closed-doors  to persuade him to resign, but the deputy speaker rejected their pleas.

Meanwhile, on the first day Lasun presided over the house due to the absence of Dogara, on July 28, he seemed jittery. When he was supposed to take votes on a particular matter, instead of putting the question twice for the ‘ayes’ and ‘nays,’ he ruled when only the ‘ayes’ responded,  and went ahead to hit the gavel.

This made many of his colleagues present at the green chamber to laugh. Having realised his gaffe, he later put the second question. But the next time he presided over the house, he was more composed.

Although, some of his colleagues believe that he is learning fast, but others feel it might take him a long time to have a firm grasp of legislative procedures.

But, Bimbo Daramola, Lasun’s chief of staff, believes that based on the experience of the deputy speaker, he would do well in the next four years.

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He said:“More importantly, for 203 of his colleagues to have voted for him as deputy speaker meant that they believed he has something worthwhile to offer to the legislature.

“Insinuations that Lasun was against Gbajabiamila can still not hold water because, by job description, the responsibilities of the two offices are clearly defined.

“While the house leader liaises between the president and the house, brings correspondences and so on, the deputy speaker’s scope is wider, deeper and more extensive. He is an alternate speaker; the rules say so. In situations when the speaker is not available, the deputy speaker presides.

“He can learn from the experience and depth of Gbajabiamila; there is no doubt about that, and vice versa. At this point in time, people should not stoke up embers of discord between the two; it’s not necessary

“The introvert nature of the deputy speaker should not be manipulated and taken for granted by mischief makers to disrupt harmonious flow of legislative work in this Assembly.”

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Meanwhile, there are indications that Dogara is taking steps to whittle down the influence of Lasun. Pundits opine the move could be connected to what the speaker’s camp is Lasun’s minimal role in the emergence of Dogara as speaker.

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