On-air personality, Ayo Mairo-Ese, has defended Lagos State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon. Mojisola Meranda, after her emotional breakdown following the fracas that engulfed the assembly on Monday, February 17.

Emotions got the best of the Speaker as she broke down in tears while members of the House passed a vote of confidence in her.

During the "What's Trending" segment of the Arise Morning Show, Mairo-Ese said crying doesn't signify weakness as many have claimed.

She urged the Speaker not to play the victim in the incident that occurred yesterday but to fight for what she believes is right.

"I don't want her to play the victim. You are not a victim. Many men have walked this path and have held their stance and been strong. And please let's not say no more, she's crying, she's crying. We are built differently. Sometimes we express emotions in different ways. It doesn't signify weakness. She was overwhelmed by the proceedings and that was how she expressed herself. It's not because she's weak. Madam Speaker, you are the substantive Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly. Stand your ground," she said.

Recall personnel of the Department of State Security (DSS) stormed the legislative chamber, closed the Speaker's office, and stopped the lawmakers from having access to the chamber.

The lawmakers confronted the security operatives, who eventually submitted to the lawmakers as the plenary resumed after several hours.

A few minutes into the plenary session, Hon. Oladipo Ajomale, a member of the House representing Oshodi-Isolo Constituency 2, raised the motion for the Vote of Confidence.

He urged his colleagues to make the vote as proof of their solidarity with Meranda, whom they elected in replacement of former Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa.

“I want to move a Vote of Confidence on you by all members of the sacred House of Assembly to show that if truly they removed the former Speaker of this Assembly and elected you, whom we believe in as the Speaker, we will display it here live and clear for people to know that this is serious,” he said.

With all the lawmakers standing in one accord to make the vote, Meranda asked if they were all in favor.

The echoes of "yay" filled the Assembly with Meranda hitting the gavel to pass the vote before bursting into tears as captured in a video on X.

She was cheered by the lawmakers with tears rolling down her face as she soaked in the atmosphere of support.



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