by Willy Okonji-
In a dramatic twist during Monday’s session, Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker Mudashiru Obasa, freshly reinstated amid political turmoil, inadvertently labeled journalists as “the fifth columnist of the realm” instead of their traditional role as the “fourth estate.”
During his appreciation speech following his reinstatement—a move that came after his dramatic ousting and subsequent intervention from Abuja—Obasa declared, “I will not leave behind our friends, the fifth columnist of the realm.” The statement sparked immediate reactions from those present.
Realizing the misstep, Obasa quickly corrected himself, adding, “sorry, the fourth estate of the realm,” as murmurs of disbelief rippled through the chamber.
The incident unfolded against a backdrop of high political drama. Earlier that day, emotions ran high when former Speaker Mojisola Meranda, who had briefly held the position, tearfully stepped down. In a rapid reshuffle, she resumed her role as Deputy Speaker, paving the way for Obasa’s return to the speakership—a power play that has left many observers questioning the forces at work within the Assembly.
The slip of the tongue has since become a focal point of the day’s proceedings, underscoring the intense political intrigues and the sensitive nature of language in Lagos’ turbulent legislative arena.
