I have to come to bury Caesar not to praise him, the evil that men do, live after them

– Marcus Brutus in Williams Shakespeare’s Julius Ceaser

The above quote from one of the most popular of Williams Shakespeare’s works forms the basis of my writing this article.

For me, I owe it a point of duty to put the record straight at all, particularly for the new generation popularly called the GenZ generation who may have been swayed by the lies and misrepresentation of facts by ignorant people posing as public analysts on the Lagos political landscape.

In recent time, the major source of discussion in Lagos politics was the removal of Mudashiru Obasa as the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly.

I’m neither a politician nor a member of the Assembly, I am just a public analyst, who possess deep knowledge of the political activities and its players particularly since the current political dispensation birthed in 1998.

Accusing fingers were pointed at perceived orchestrators of the removal but what came to me as very awkward and unbelievable was the allegation that some politicians are planning to take over Lagos from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu with the members and leaders of the referred Justice Forum at the receiving end of abuse, vilification and outright lies.

For the sake of this particular article, I have come to put the record straight, not to praise leaders and elders Justice Forum.

The need to put the record straight is essential, particularly with a particular social media content Creator going on video to lie and present fallacies as facts.

With my knowledge of Lagos politics, it would be very difficult and unfortunate to make Justice Forum, its leaders and members scapegoat for what happened in the House of Assembly.

For emphasis sake, the members have insisted that what happened was their internal affair which not a few agreed with them that they have the right to conduct the affair of the Assembly in accordance with the rules.

For the avoidance of doubt, this writer personally believes and agrees with many that Justice Forum is a honest organisation peopled by leaders who have been tested, trusted and have always delivered on their assignments with dignity, honesty and transparency.

It remains the biggest and most influential political group within the All Progressives Congress (APC). Let us be clear, Justice Forum gave birth to all other groups due to the growth of our great party. As such, it will be a fallacy to conclude that Justice Forum will and can seek any discord within APC. It will not happen.

Over the years, the group, its leaders, elders and members have been guided by the motto of the group, Truth Shall Always Prevail, and my interactions with others have proven that they have not waivered from this path of truth and honesty.

It is important to note that when lies continue to spread like wildfire, they are sometimes taken as truth, hence the need to put set the record straight and put a lie to the wicked rumours being spread about the organisation.

Justice Forum has always been and will remain a solid rock of support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, that is sacrosanct in motto and belief.

Thus, the ridiculous statements by some paid agents that the leadership of JF is seeking to betray and reduce the influence of President Tinubu in Lagos is a wicked lie from the pit of the most brutal part of hell.

The lie which started gaining ground through the vituperation of a hired social media charlatan against leaders of the groip therefore, calls for urgent reaction and need to clear the smear campaign.

To put the record straight and for the umpteenth time, neither leaders nor members of Justice Forum were involved in the removal of Rt. Honourable Obasa.

The Lawmakers treated the issue as an internal one among themselves, hence, linking the removal to the Justice Forum is absolute nonsense and a terrible fallacy.

The content Creator and his ilks have raised many unsubstantiated allegations against the Justice Forum and their leaders including outright lies in their presentations.

It is absurd and unheard of to accuse JF leaders of betraying Tinubu or accuse them of working against the President. A deeper investigation into their background revealed a bunch of people, ignorant of past events and history of political movements in Lagos and Nigeria.

It is pertinent to state here that President Tinubu is a founding member of Justice Forum which was formed in protest against the decision of Chief Dapo Sarumi to take up appointment with the Interim National Government (ING).

The group, aligned with other pro-democracy groups particularly, Afenifere and NADECO, to fight for the actualisation of June 12 mandate of the late Chief MKO Abiola and it is on record that no leader of the group participated in the transition programme of the military administration of late General Sani Abacha.

When General AbdulSalami Abubakar heralded new transition programme, Justice Forum, aligned with the decision of the NADECO and Afenifere to participate in the programme which culminated in its being one of the major foundation groups of the Alliance for Democracy (AD).

When President Tinubu returned to Nigeria in 1998, he found a natural habitat in Justice Forum and renewed his long-term membership of the group and relationship with the leaders. It is the Justice Forum that provided the platform for him to launch his governorship aspiration in 1998.

In actual fact, Justice Forum was the first group to publicly endorse the aspiration of President Tinubu. His adoption was announced at a meeting in the house of Late Oba Mufutau Hamzat in Yaya Abatan area of Ogba, and it was him and the late Chief Mumuni Adio Badmus who raised his hand on that day along with some other leaders.

It should be noted that during the imbroglio that greeted the Lagos AD gubernatorial primaries in 1998 which pitted President Tinubu against the late Funsho Williams, the Justice Forum members and their leaders stood solidly behind the President, they were never shaky in their support, they mobilised their members to not only participate in the primaries but also to vote massively for President Tinubu.

It should be noted firmly here that then, some leaders who are now pushing the negative narrative out not only supported the late Funsho Williams, they voted for him and tried all they could to truncate Tinubu’s victory during the primaries.

Many still remember the roles one of them played when he was a Minister by trying to undermine and truncate the administration of Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Governor of Lagos State. Another was the Chairman of the Network Alliance, Funsho William’s political group while another simply rebuffed all entreaties made by then AD Governorship aspirant, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to join his group.

Over the years, President Tinubu has always enjoyed the support and encouragement of the leaders and elders of Justice Forum.

When he was leaving office in 2007, there was a succession crisis but the Justice Forum leaders stood solidly behind the President. They aligned with his choice of candidate. Tola Kasali was first presented as his preferred candidate, the leaders queued behind him, when the baton change to Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, the leaders naturally switched their support for him.

When Fashola was living office and another succession crisis reared its head, and President Tinubu settled for Akinwunmi Ambode, the Justice Forum leaders queued up behind Ambode even though one of the sons of their leader was contesting for the same position. As the Chairman of the Lagos APC then and staunch member of JF, Chief Henry Oladele Ajomale never used his position to favour Kadir Obafemi Hamzat, son of the leader of his group.

The same process played out during the selection of Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, the choice of their leader, President Tinubu.

When Tinubu decided to run for the Presidency of the country, the leaders of Justice Forum, not only supported him, they were on the road with him throughout the length and breadth of the country during his consultation tour.

Since he became President of Nigeria, Justice Forum leaders have not slacked. They have remain resolute in their support for him and keeping him abreast of events going on in Lagos.

Justice Forum will continue to uphold truth, advocate for peace and tranquility among Nigerians and will not relent in their support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

The naysayers and the social media charlatan actually ranted against the president then. We know that money buy people’s conscience not people at Justice Forum. These sets of people should find other jobs to do rather than spreading rumours and lies to cause disaffection between the President and his people. Posterity will be unkind to those whose only action is to cause discord in the society.

Once again, I want to re-emphasise that I came to set the record straight but not to praise Justice Forum.

Adeola Al-Amin is a public affairs analyst and is based in Lagos

In the dynamic political terrain of Ogun State, one name continues to stand out—Chief Olaseni Olubusola Salako. A native of Idogo, Yewa South Local Government, Olaseni was born on June 13, 1973, into the prominent Salako family of Agbole Oluwo. His journey from a thriving private sector career to the frontline of Ogun State politics is a testament to his vision, resilience, and dedication to the people.
An alumnus of Ogun State University, Ago Iwoye, where he earned a degree in Economics, Chief Olaseni built an impressive professional career. He served at Refuge Insurance Company as a Marketing Controller before taking up the role of Managing Director at Wao Logistics between 2005 and 2010. Seeking greater knowledge and exposure, he relocated to Canada in 2011, where he further honed his skills and expertise.
Despite his international experience, his heart remained in Nigeria, particularly in Yewa land. This commitment led to the establishment of the Salako Empowerment Foundation (SEF), which has transformed countless lives through social and economic interventions. SEF’s programs have uplifted many by offering financial aid, educational scholarships, and skills development initiatives.
Chief Olaseni’s passion for governance and grassroots empowerment naturally led him to active participation in politics, where he has become a major stakeholder in Ogun State’s PDP. His influence within the party continues to reshape the political landscape, solidifying his reputation as a people-centric leader.
In 2022, Apagun Olaseni vied for the PDP’s ticket to represent the good people of Yewa South State Constituency at the Ogun State House of Assembly, Abeokuta. This legitimate political aspiration provided a firsthand insight to the genuine aspirations of the people who have undeservedly continued to suffer all manners of misrepresentation and abject neglect from the government both at the state and the federal levels.
However, the ambition had to be sacrificed in the overall interests and wellbeing of the PDP in Ogun State in what is today known, in PDP, as the Consent Judgement of 2021 which conferred judicial legitimacy on some internal arrangements in the build up to the 2023 rounds of general elections.
With the 2027 parliamentary elections approaching, his candidacy for the Federal House of Representatives has gained immense traction. He is widely acknowledged as the best choice for Yewa South/Ipokia  Constituency, enjoying overwhelming support from the party faithful and the electorate alike.
As a strategic thinker, bridge-builder, and champion of progressive ideals, Chief Olaseni Salako represents the new face of Ogun State politics.
His ascendancy within the PDP signals a shift towards leadership that prioritizes people’s needs, transparency, and genuine development.
With the tide strongly in his favor, the journey to 2027 appears promising, as the people of Ogun State rally behind a leader they trust and believe in.

Since the emergence of Rt. Hon Mojisola Lasbat Meranda as the first female speaker of the Lagos House of Assembly and consequently resumption in office on Monday, January 27, 2025, the Lagos polity had witnessed various activities.

At the inception of her emergence, many had wondered if the impeachment of ex-speaker Mudashiru Obasa would hold water as a result of his absence but the lawmakers that spearheaded the impeachment and the election of Meranda insisted that the process was done to uphold the sanctity and integrity of the House.

Upon the return of Obasa, the ex-speaker, who has refused to leave the official residence of the Speaker of Lagos Assembly, claimed his impeachment and emergence of Meranda were illegal.

However, lawmakers including Hon. Ogundipe Stephen Olukayode and Hon. Abiodun Tobun backed the process of Obasa’s impeachment and the emergence of Meranda with Chapter 5, Section 92 of the Nigerian Constitution, which says a Speaker of House of Assembly or Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly shall vacate the office if he/she ceases to be a member of the House of Assembly otherwise than by reason of the dissolution of the House; When the House first sits after any dissolution of House; or if he/she is removed from office by a resolution of House of Assembly by the votes of not less than two-third majority of the members of the House.

In another twist, the men of the Lagos Command of the Department of State Services (DSS) detained some Lagos lawmakers over the impeachment process. Determined not to renege on their resolutions, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly visited the Shangisha office of the DSS to reaffirm that the removal of the former Speaker was in line with constitutional provisions.

The latest ploy is to use the media in distorting the real issues and spreading false narratives to cause unrest to the Assembly and the new leadership.

Earlier on Sunday, February 2, 2025, there were false reports claiming President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also doubles as the leader of the All Progressive Congress, has instructed the current leadership of the House of Assembly led by Rt. Hon Meranda to resign for Obasa to return and be reinstated. The report even falsely linked the distinguished First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, to the fake tale noting that she spoke to the president on behalf of Obasa to ensure Meranda and other principal officers resign. This, the report noted, was to avoid political issues ahead of the next elections.

“When it seemed ploys and tactics from the ex-speaker are not yielding expected results, those behind the plots have resorted to sponsoring wild rumours and dropping names,” an inside political source revealed. “The president is the leader of our party and it’s quick to drop his name around in the media to make Obasa seem like one who has a strong backing. All the antics from Obasa that you are seeing are all the ex-speaker clutching to the last straws of what remains of his political career.”

Another source close to the presidency waved off the report as not only a joke but a figment of the writer’s imagination or possibly sponsored by the Obasa camp.

“The people claiming the president wasn’t aware of the removal of Obasa are insulting the president and the security architecture of his administration. How can something like that take place and the DSS and other people handling intelligence will not know. These are ordinary civilian politicians, not military officers who can hold clandestine meetings. So, something of that magnitude happened in Asiwaju’s Lagos and he didn’t know?” the source asked rhetorically.

Continuing, the source revealed that the narrative that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who also serves as the leader of the All Progressive Congress and linking the distinguished first lady, Oluremi Tinubu to the mix is pure lies.

“How can anyone think he wasn’t aware and so he is unhappy with the lawmakers? He had received them in the villa after they were all elected, the same way the governor had received them. If Asiwaju didn’t want it to happen, he would have nipped the plan in the bud and stopped them in their tracks. I insist, something of that political magnitude could not have happened and he would be in the dark.”

Meanwhile, Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda has resumed office and received dignitaries and association including the executives of National Association of Nigerian Students, representatives from the 1st Assembly to the 9th Assembly of the Lagos State House of Assembly, amongst others while presiding over the plenary sessions in the house without issues.

The facts of the emergence of Rt. Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda is one that is open to the general public.

Rt. Hon. Meranda’s emergence is coming from a place of worth and competence. As one, who never had issues with the former speaker while she held the position of the Deputy Speaker nor contested for the position after the speaker was impeached, it becomes worrisome to many how she emerged.

Some argued that her emergence was influenced by the powers that be but investigation has proven that despite being the immediate younger sister to the Oniru of Iru land, Meranda has achieved popularity and deposited confidence in the consciousness of other lawmakers with her smart, intelligent and brilliant mien. Her elder brother has repeatedly noted that he has no business with the activities in the state assembly as he’s busy with the development of Iru land, hence he has no hand in either her emergence nor her running of the house of assembly activities since her emergence in January 2025.

Meanwhile, Rt. Hon. Meranda has enjoyed unwavering support and backing from the female folks across the state. Aside from her dedication to women, widows, children and youths’ causes, her emergence as the first female speaker in the Lagos Assembly since the inauguration of the first assembly in 1979 has ignited a united front from various women oriented civil and labour organisations across the state.

Meranda, who is a wife, mother, and politician with an impressive resume, is an easy going person, who was voted by the members of the assembly as a result of her worth and the confidence they have in her