The Deputy Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Mojisola Labat Meranda is clearly one of the most popular of the Legislators in Lagos today. Mention her name anywhere within the Lagos political circle and you will find many acknowledging the fact that she is presently one of APC’s brightest prospects at the Lagos Assembly. If truth be told, at the Lagos Assembly, there aren’t too many Lawmakers who are quite as unassuming and humble as Hon. Mojisola Lasbat. Without a doubt, she is one of the most down-to-earth politicians you will possibly ever meet. This very beautiful woman represents the good people of Apapa consituency 1 and she’s done a fantastic job representing her people so far. Highly respected and loved by her peers, Honourable Mojisola is one politician who simply does not know how to go about carrying airs around her. She is a very accessible person and her uncanny ability to mix well with people, no matter how highly or lowly placed, stands her out from her contemporaries. She is also extremely brilliant. And of course, her performances too, over the years have been nothing short of impressive. No wonder why her people in Apapa constituency 1 adore her so much they have returned her to serve them for a third consecutive term. This didn’t come as a surprise to those who know this very tenacious and compassionate politician, her passion and commitment to serve and elevate her people has been well documented.
One of the things many also respect about Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda is the fact that she rarely throws her weight around. She does not use her office or status to intimidate staff at the Assembly or the grassroots people under her watch. Long before she emerged as the Deputy Speaker of the Lagos Assembly, she has always been a humble politician who conducted herself appropriately, within and outside of her office. And now that she emerged Deputy Speaker few months ago, those who know her will tell you nothing has changed about this amiable woman who knows to dress well. She has remained her humble self. Always cautious, careful before she speaks, respects the next person and carries herself without an iota of arrogance. Her emergence as Deputy Speaker of the most revered Assembly in the country has not changed her personality one bit.
Without a doubt, Hon. Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, by virtue of her position as the Deputy Speaker, has clearly become the most powerful female Lawmaker at the Assembly, and possibly in the country. As it is, she wields enormous influence and power. Though, she is the type that will be modest about her influence and powers, and would never get carried away with it, but she knows its there. And everyone knows its there. More than ever before now, she has the prospect of playing politics at the very top if she so desires. But everyone who knows Honourable Mojisola will tell you she is a very calm and organised woman. She never runs ahead of her shadows. And she is a party loyalist to the core as well. She listens to what the party hierarchy tells her. She will never go contrary to their wishes. She has been very calculative in every political step or decision she takes.
You can never find her connected to the smallest of scandals. Hon. Mojisola has no controversy hanging over her head. She is a very reserved personality who loves to listen more to people than talking. Those close to her know how highly connected she is with some members of top hierarchy of the party. She has been around for a while and has developed very close relationship with the leadership of the party, particularly the elders who have found her to be a humble, respectful and trusted politician. She respects both the elders and her contemporaries alike. She is also very close to her peers at the Lagos House of Assembly. You would scarcely hear that Hon. Mojisola has issues with anyone. She is a woman imbued with the ability to manage people and handle crisis effectively if and when they arise.
As the Deputy Speaker, she also holds the leadership of the Lagos Assembly in high esteem. She has never hidden her admiration for the leadership style of the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa. She once said of the Speaker’s performance a couple of years ago: “He has a unique style and approach to issues that I like. He is a very fair leader and one thing about him that I like is that he knows how to carry everybody along in whatever decision he takes. He is very straight forward, he lets you know where he stands on issues and he stands by his decision. He shows respect to everyone of us and encourages us to raise the standard of the Assembly. I admire his leadership qualities and I applaud his performance so far.” It is noteworthy to say that, just a couple of years after she made this remark, today, she is now the Deputy to the Speaker of the Lagos Assembly. And from what we hear, they are enjoying a pretty cordial working relationship together.
Many don’t know that Honourable Mojisola Lasbat Meranda, who does not look anything like a politician, is from the very popular Ojora family in Lagos. How did she get into politics? She explains: “Luckily for me, I was born into it. My father was a legislator, though at the local government level at the time before he became a traditional ruler. The palace alone is like a country on its own where you see all kinds of people. People come to see him, bring matters to him and many would come simply to visit too. So, I would say my Dad actually gave me the platform to prepare myself for what I’m doing today.”
She explains further: “My Dad is late Chief Taoreed Akanni Lawal Akapo, he was the Ojora of Lagos. He was there for sixteen years and he also happened to be my mentor. He was a very accommodating man, a man I really loved and respect a great deal. I learnt a whole lot of things from him. Though he died when I was quite young, I was just about twelve years old at the time, but I can still remember a lot of things about him and actually learnt a whole lot from him as well. So, the palace gave me the platform I needed. And you’re not the first person that would be telling me I don’t look like a politician, and I always ask, how does a politician look? For me, politics is nothing but a process, or a marketing strategy, that somebody aspiring for public office has to employ to be able to achieve his or her aims. It shouldn’t be about violence, it should be about engaging people, the electorates. It should be about having one on one conversation with them, about selling yourself and making yourself acceptable. That’s my idea of how politics should be run, although I am aware there are still some unpleasant and scary areas but it’s all good, we’re coping with it.”
As regards how she found her way into politics, she has this to say: “Well, I started my career with Dr. Olumuyiwa Gbadegesin, he was with Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu during his tenure. He was the SSA on Information Technology and it was with him that I started my career professionally. I worked with him and we were together before Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu moved him to the Land Information System Support Unit where he served as the Director under the office of the Surveyor General. I was also there with him. Later, I moved to another organization, Cyrus Nig. Ltd, they are also into Information Technology and Oil and Gas in Lekki Phase 1. Then, I had to leave the organization for a local government job because that has always been my interest, giving service to the people. So, I left my private job and joined the then Chairman of Apapa local government, Honourable Ayodeji Joseph. I started with him as his SSA on Intergovernmental Relations. During his second tenure, I was given an appointment as his Supervisory Councilor for Health in Apapa, an office in which I am proud to say I did well. And that was the turning point for me because, I thought to myself and said, ‘if I could excel and do so well as a Supervisory Councilor, why don’t I aspire for something higher? And thank God, to God be the glory, I am here today.”
Some people might think she has had one easy ride to the top in politics. But how much of her dues would she say she has paid? “No, I have also paid my dues when it comes to politics. I started politics when I turned eighteen. I was attending political meetings even though I had nothing in mind then in terms of aspiring for political office. But I would just attend the meetings with my brothers and cousins then. I would sit with them and listen to them and if I had anything to contribute to whatever was being discussed, I contributed and if I didn’t have any, I would simply sit down and observe. Really, I have also paid my dues. I remember whenever we had Ward meetings then, we would go ahead to the venue to prepare the place for those coming in for the meeting. Likewise the LGA meetings, I would join those who would go ahead to prepare the venue for the meeting. So, I have paid my dues quietly but a lot of people did not see that part. They think I just came out of nowhere. Those that really know about that part are my Apapa people, particularly those from my constituency that we did things together and coordinated things together. I was also part of the Ijora- Oloye Youth Wing, the committee that was also involved in the creation of the local governments, LCDA’s then. We actually organized some youth organizations then to sensitive the government on why we needed more local governments, so I have been very active.”
– WALE LAWAL
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